The Jambar

Issue date: 9/13/05 Section: News

Youngstown State University may be closer to receiving campus-wide wireless Internet after a meeting last week between Amanda Mielke, vice president of the Student Government Association and YSU Interim Chief of Technology, Donna Esterly.

Esterly said the administration is working on finding a replacement for the Director of Network Services, who retired last February.

"We have received some applicants and should have someone in place by the end of next month," Esterly said.

Once the position is filled, Esterly said wireless Internet will become a priority.

Esterly said a pilot program is already in place in Maag Library, where students can sign out laptop computers to use in the library for three-hour increments.

Erik Shaffer, a Maag Library lab assistant, said the laptops are popular among students.

"There's always a number signed out at any given time," Shaffer said. He estimates around 15 laptops are used every hour the library is open.

By next spring, SGA hopes to have open wireless in Maag Library so students will be able to gain Internet access from personal laptops with a CUE-MAIL account.

"This is opposed to a truly open network which anyone could access and would definitely be a security nightmare," Bob McGovern, SGA president, said.

McGovern said that signing in would help protect the network.

While it is unknown how many YSU students own laptops, Esterly believes that the number will rise because laptops are becoming more affordable.

Sophomore Christine Korchnak, who transferred from Kent State University, said that she saw the wireless Internet system at Kent State University as successful.

"Everyone seemed to be on their laptops," Korchnak said.

Wireless Internet will also allow students freedom to study where it is the most efficient for them.

Graduate student Lindsey Willman said she thinks wireless Internet would be beneficial because "students won't have to be confined to a computer lab or the library."

The cost of bringing wireless Internet to YSU is currently unknown.

"We need to do more research on the issue," Esterly said.

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