University should advertise wireless "hotspots"

submitted by Ed Quicksall

April 24, 2006 —

I would like to express my thoughts on the wireless situation here at Saginaw Valley.

Mr. Ken Schindler has stated that there is an apparent lack of interest in the University's wireless "hotspots." He stated that most of the 104 users access the "hotspots" from the Library. How can one think there is a lack of interest in the hotspots if the only area that is marked as a hotspot is the library?

Ken also stated that there are hotspots that have yet to be discovered. How are these hotspots supposed to be discovered if they are not advertised?

The only resource with the location of the hotspots on campus is the ITS Web site. The ITS Web site tends to be frequented by those students who are going into or are in technical fields. Student majoring in non-technical fields do not tend to seek information on the ITS Web site.

It would be relatively easy to advertise the "hotspots" on campus, on the SVSU main page, or by using small posters around campus. As it stands, the information is buried to the general population of the SVSU campus.

Another issue with accessing the wireless network is the software that is required for connection. The connection to the campus wireless or any campus network requires the user to meet certain specification defined by ITS:

- Symantec Anti-virus: The user is required to uninstall any other version of anti-virus including the commercial version of Symantec.

- Any firewall programs other than Windows XP also needs to be uninstalled.

Unknowingly and without the users consent, Windows XP firewall is turned on and the Automatic updates are redirected to a SVSU server. The options to turn off or change these services are denied to the user.

These settings prevent the laptop (and ResNet) users from receiving Automatic updates once they are not on campus.

The average computer user is unable to change or remove these settings without reinstallation of Windows XP.

Unlike what Ken and ITS believe, wireless access is not a fad. Providing wireless access campus wide will move the students back out to the old study areas by trees and lakes and will help increase the productivity of the students.

SVSU's ITS needs to move into the present instead being stuck in the past.

Ed Quicksall CS student and ACM President