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IT said it hopes to have 40% of U. Oklahoma wireless by May 2007
(Comtex Business Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)NORMAN, Okla., Mar 23, 2006 (Oklahoma Daily, U-WIRE via COMTEX) --In future years, 60 percent of the University of Oklahoma campus could possibly have access to wireless Internet.
Michelle Wiginton, communications director for Information Technology, said after working with student and campus leaders, a wireless network could soon cover most of the high priority areas identified by the student community.
Student Congress has written and passed legislation advocating a campus-wide wireless network desired by students in past semesters.
UOSA Vice President Kenah Nyanat said after collaborating with Student Congress and IT, a wireless network that would blanket campus is not likely to happen in one semester, but that access will be available in more places.
"We are excited," Nyanat said. "We want to make sure it's here by May 2007. It's going to happen. We need students' input on how it's going to happen ... it's something we feel is really important," Nyanat said.
Students have expressed a growing interest in having campus-wide wireless access.
"This is something that has to be done," said Joel Cephus, computer science senior. "I cannot tell you how many times I have needed to access the Internet from my laptop somewhere on campus and haven't been able to get signal."
Jason Foss, Student Congress member, was part of the group teamed with IT to develop a wireless plan.
Foss said IT proposed a plan last semester for a blanket wireless network that would have covered campus within the borders of Timberdell Road, Boyd Street, Jenkins Avenue and Elm Avenue.
Foss said the proposed network would have cost nearly $4 million.
After his own calculations, Foss said he believed the network would amount to about a $1 fee per credit hour.
OU President David L. Boren "is against any fee raises," Foss said. "Without the fee raise, the increase in wireless is not going to be drastic."
Andrea Barnes, University College freshman, said she would be willing to pay a small fee for a campus-wide wireless network.
"It would be really convenient -- you wouldn't just have to go to one place to use it," Barnes said.
With a lack of funding, the new approach is a gradual one, but Wiginton said OU is making significant progress.
"As of fall 2005, 15 percent of the campus had wireless coverage. During the 2006-2007 [year], at least 40 percent of the campus is projected for wireless coverage, provided funding can be secured for installation and maintenance of the service," Wiginton said.
She said in future years, the access could increase to 60 percent of campus.
Nyanat said an increase in fees was the main concern of UOSA. In order to avoid an increase in fees, Nyanat said it requires a three-semester process -- hopefully providing more wireless access on campus by May 2007.
"UOSA is on top of making sure it gets carried out," Nyanat said.
Although the convenience of a wireless network excites many students, the possibility of a campus-wide wireless network could bring problems.
"Like all online service, there are security concerns with wireless networks, including identity theft and denial of service to legitimate customers," Wiginton said. "It is easier to intercept or 'sniff' user information from a wireless network than a wired network."
The wired network at Goddard Health Center, which is independent of IT, has specific issues with using a wireless network, according to Tyler Azevedo, computer science and music performance senior who works at Goddard IT.
"From my point of view, it would be a security issue here in Goddard ... since we take care of so many confidential medical records," Azevedo said.
Nyanat and Wiginton said UOSA and IT will continue to work together to advocate more wireless access for students, even if it takes time.
"If the university feels that wireless is integral to student success, IT will do everything it can do to make our campus as wired as it can be, while managing costs, resources and services for the good of all," Wiginton said.
IT currently maintains wireless service in Felgar Hall, Carson Engineering Center, portions of Sarkeys Energy Center, Oklahoma Memorial Union, Bizzell Memorial Library, Collings Hall, Gittinger Hall and Couch Center.
There are also several colleges and departments that maintain their own wireless service independent of IT.
The IT Service Centers and the OU Online Security Team offer a variety of tips and suggestions for computer security at security.ou.edu.
IT recommends that all clients use host firewalls, anti-virus, intrusion prevention, etc., and that no usernames or passwords are typed into Web sites when on the wireless network, unless they are encrypted (https://) sites.
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