SBU to become a wireless campus
Alyson Browning
Issue date: 3/11/05 Section: News
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Comment on this articleSBU is currently soliciting bids to make its Bolivar campus completely wireless. According to Bob McGlasson, vice president for information and technology services, the procedure to make this happen should be two-phased.
 Media Credit: Ben Cassil Junior Josh Clutter works diligently on his laptop. [Click to enlarge] |
Phase two includes making lobbies of residence halls and academic classroom buildings wireless. This phase is to be completed by the fall of 2006. But dates and locations are subject to change, because the university is still receiving bids on the project.
McGlasson says the SBU Web site will provide maps and other information regarding the location of the devices and notes on how to utilize wireless equipment.
In the future, a map of the floors in each building will be online with designated markings showing where students and faculty can have online access. The type of card needed for laptops will also be posted. A how-to page will be available to explain different devices that can be accessed and will show users how to utilize the help desk.
SBU's public computer labs will not be removed. These labs will remain in use for students who do not have access to laptops and for specialty software needed for different courses.
When asked why the university was not made wireless in the first place, McGlasson said there was a good reason.
"We had to be wired so we could be wireless," McGlasson said. Without its current capabilities, McGlasson said the campus would not be able to get wireless technology.
In last week's edition of the Omnibus, a list of fees for the 2005-2006 school year included a technology fee of $260. The fee includes this wireless makeover and will not demand any additional fees. McGlasson says he and his department want what is best for SBU's students and are very protective of the technology fee.
Also aiding the university's wireless project efforts is the decreasing cost of the procedures and devices needed. More students are able to afford the devices and the school is better able to afford the procedures to become wireless.
The university is making this technological transition to provide a powerful instructional tool in the classroom and to make internet usage more convenient for students.
Jeff Hogue, director of user support, said students will experience wireless connections everywhere in the future. Since SBU is an institution of higher learning, Hogue believes students should become familiar with such devices and procedures now instead of later.
There are security issues with wireless connections, but Hogue made it clear that SBU will continue to be a secure network.
"We're going to protect from war-driving," Hogue said. In layman's terms, Hogue is saying people will not be able to come into the network and steal content. The network will be very secure while not being restrictive to students.
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