Emotional Paradox

According to an article in today’s OU Daily, the Student Congress chair met with representatives of the Information Technology department to discuss the possibility of campus-wide wireless connectivity. The proposal states the wireless coverage would be from Timberdell Road to Boyd Street and Jenkins Avenue to Chatauqua Avenue, roughly 2 square miles. Currently, many buildings on campus offer Wi-Fi access on specific floors or in specific classrooms, but the areas really needing the wireless access are dorms & outdoor communal areas, along with the Student Union building. Student Congress Chairwoman Micah Carlson had this to say:

This is basically the sweetest thing we’ve ever done. What else will take OU into the 21st century like this?

It’s nearly 2006. But, better late than never. And please adopt 802.11B/G this time! Carlson added:

It’s silly not to have wireless in the dorms.

I couldn’t agree more. On-campus residences should have Internet access anyway, including dorms & apartments. Other state colleges like SWOSU & Oklahoma State University have already done this. Why is OU so slow to try newer technology?

This is a proposal direly needed to pass. Funding? To collect additional funds from students. Neda Nikpoor, vice chairwoman of problems and projects for Student Congress, said:

We thought it would be reasonable to ask students for a couple more dollars.

We’re already going broke paying for everything else, what’s it matter, right? Wrong. This is the problem with our Student Congress: they get elected by fellow Congressmen & close the doors to public interaction. For a body ‘representing’ so many & having so much authority, they sure do rely on so few voices. Instead of improperly assuming, how about a student referendum? Let’s see what the majority has to say.

The fact is, Internet access is pivotal to the success of many students, including myself. Campus-wide Wi-Fi is a great step towards allowing students to always be able to have that Internet access. But, the students should be the last source of revenue for this project. Contracting the services out to a company would be great, but the school should spend money out of private donations,etc., to get the project moving. My solution: OU pays for it out of those private donations or other methods, but not including any student fees, and then charge the maintenance to the IT department, creating a new IT subdivision with the sole job of supporting the WI-Fi network 24/7/365. If the university is going to pay someone to maintain it, they might as well pay student employees.