Students stuck on campus this summer may have recently noticed a change in the University’s wireless Internet. Instead of “lsuwireless,” there is a new platform now, called “lsusecure.” Information Technology Services told The Daily Reveille that it made the change to offer students better protection from identity theft – which is becoming a larger problem as the Internet increasingly becomes a major factor in people’s lives. “Before, it was impossible to safeguard all information and leave the network open to transfer other information,” said Sheri Thompson, Information Technology Communications and Planning Officer. “With new advances in technology, accessibility and security are finally possible.” Unfortunately, early indications show ITS missed the user-friendly mark. Students will most likely return to campus this fall unaware of the switch to “lsusecure.” And they will be rudely awakened when they try to access the University’s wireless Internet and encounter a Web site containing seven printed pages of instructions to switch to “lsusecure.” We thank ITS for providing students with instructions on making the appropriate changes. But we have found that changing the settings is nearly impossible without printing them out beforehand. ITS should print out the instructions to help students, who will have enough to worry about once classes start Aug. 27. Another frustrating aspect of “lsusecure” is its inability to work with Apple’s new iPhone, which is popular among students. The Daily Reveille reported July 19 that the iPhone does not work with “lsusecure,” which will cause problems when students return to Baton Rouge for classes. College students are likely one of the largest groups to be attracted to new technology, and iPhone enthusiasts will surely be disappointed when they arrive on campus and find out they cannot use one of iPhone’s most attractive features. University officials should try to work with AT&T officials to find a suitable resolution to this problem, either by adapting the new network or by adding an iPhone-compatible tower. ITS is on the right track with “lsusecure,” but it needs to finish the job it has started.
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