Students on the B.C. campus could expect to have wireless Internet access on campus as soon as next semester.
According to Donald Turney, dean of students, students will be able to access the wireless Internet (wifi) in the campus center at a radius of about 200ft. but wants the wifi connection to be able to be accessed throughout the entire campus.
Having the wireless Internet available to the students will take some “pressure off of the computer commons” and “allow them to be used for research while the wireless access for personal email and websites like Myspace.”
Students that have a laptop and a wireless card will be able to access the wifi connection by going into the student government office singing a “computer use protocol” and obtaining a MAC# then entering the MAC# into their computer to gain access.
As simple as it may seem to gain access to the internet through the wifi connection it will have what is known as a “college firewall” protecting it, says Turney.
The wifi signal will run independently from the college’s Internet server. This would “be in the best interest of the students and the school to not have it intertwined with the college’s server,” says Turney. This decision was made by Information Technology and the Student Government Assosiation, and Turney anticipates this will offer “unlimited traffic.but who knows.”
Yet according to business major Matt Flanagan wifi will not get here soon enough. “It’s irritating, even coffee shops offer wireless [Internet]. Why can’t B.C.? I’ve even offered to donate money and no one was responsive. I’ve had to hook up my cell phone to get on the Internet on my laptop.”
Amir Yazdanipour, 23, who has his B.A. in environmental studies, said that it would be “really good” to have wifi, and that he’d use it for “checking email and going to class websites.”
Jessica Canfield, 26, Liberal Arts said “If I had one [laptop] I’d use it. it beats trying to find a computer in the commons.”
Chris Borbon, 19, Art said,”It would help students at school, but I wouldn’t use it personally. I’m no good with computers, but if I did use it I would use it for Myspace. Peace and love.”
In a survey of 50 students when asked if they would use the wifi connection 38 said yes, 8 said they would not, and 4 said that they don’t know.