I find ubuntu extremely unstable with mouse freezes (that can be corrected with control key), constant Compiz crashes ( with ATI non proprietary drivers also), problems installing drivers ( why would I want a video driver that fails to play most games, with loss of function of so many games (BZ flag?? has been around for years with no problems). I get the feeling that there is so one in your dept who is intentionally making poor and unstable choices for less than altruistic reasons. Whatever happened has been worsening ever since Unity became a choice. I have tried Kubuntu, Mint, Lubuntu and several other variants with similar poor results. Be aware I have used Ubuntu for many years.