We need a facility for high-power computing, computer graphics, sound processing, animation and other large programming problems. The answer I propose is The Bit Lab. I propose a lab with 6-10 high powered machines, assembled and managed by students. My experience with a lab of this sort is that students get excited when it's really theirs to make good. The extra benefits from a lab like this are that students get a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Students learn what it's like to manage a real lab.
They learn leadership, policy making, team work, and they develop an identity as a group. It's the kind of place students will strive to get into and will work to keep. And students who learn IT skills in The Bit Lab can then help our IT department with the exploding computer population on campus. So far we have a 500Mhz PC running Linux, assembled and installed by a student. It's a start.