Mixed signals

by Stacy Wilson
Vanguard Staff Writer

March 31, 2008 —

Frankenstein's monster is loose on campus but SVSU officials have a few ideas that could save students from its wrath.

SVSU's wireless computer capabilities vary across the University, a Vanguard investigation discovered earlier last week, and ITS networking staffers admit the system is put together a bit like the Mary Shelley character. Owen Tosh, an electrical engineering junior and ITS worker, explained the problem.

"The system is made up like a Frankenstein," he said, as there are various pieces all put together and it functions on its own. "Basically, we wouldn't know if there was a problem until someone called ITS and tells us," he said.

Tosh said that by next fall SVSU is hoping for a new wireless system. The problems students have right now could diminish by a particular system. ITS will process the system so that it can easily oversee the student activity on the computers.

ITS recently created a new policy for wireless access. This policy enforces a discontinuation of routers. Tosh said that this has to deal with security issues while on SVSU campus.

"When people are connecting through their school network, the school cannot see this connectivity through the router. Every computer needs to be connected so ITS can see how many students are connecting," he said.

"This could be a bad thing for two reasons," Tosh said. "First, anyone could go on the SVSU network. Secondly, people can get viruses on their computers and the school wouldn't know it until it's too late."

To make sure students are properly installing wireless Internet, they must go to the SVSU Web site and register their laptop or computer on the SVSU ITS link.

By doing this, computers will function properly and no one can connect through it harmfully and cause possible vulnerability.

There are some rumors that ITS plans on making SVSU all wireless in the future.

"It wouldn't happen for a long time," Tosh said.

Some people don't have wireless capabilities on their computers, and he said it is more likely to happen if SVSU builds a new building, making the building all wireless.

"It would work in a way so that a building could reach wireless access from corner to corner," he said.

Computer science sophomore Peter Ossian is disappointed with the lack of connection in all of Pioneer Hall.

"They need to increase the signal strength," he said.

Ossian, along with other computer science students, spend a lot of their time in Pioneer Hall and they are in need of wireless Internet.

However, wireless hotspots in the Groening Commons, Alumni Lounge, Einstein's Eatery, Zahnow Library, and Starbucks Cafe all had excellent wireless signal strength.

For a list of all SVSU wireless hotspots, visit svsu.edu/its and click the ResNet/Wireless link.

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