It 's done this way to protect you. Sorry if it is confusing. Redhat Linux 6.1, 6.2, kernel 2.2.16, ELF, glibc, libc6 are all the appropriate buzzwords to describe the systems. Use the yp commands to change your password, shel or finger information on the Linux systems. The commands are yppasswd, ypchsh and ypchfn respectively.
Finger is now available only within the division.
There is a web page on printing that you can peruse which contains a list of printers. Files in the public area should be visible to all users. Files in the private area should be visible only to the owner. If you drill down through the group folders there are folders for each individual. You can't write there, but you can read the files others have there.