Information Technology Services administrators met with two concerned students Wednesday to discuss connection problems with the new, more secure wireless system on campus.
Taylor Johnson, political science junior, and Student Government Sen. Brett Jackson, College of Arts and Sciences, raised concerns about “lsusecure.” Paid for in part by student fees, some students have been unable to access the new system.
Sheri Thompson, ITS communications and planning officer, said the switch to the new system was precipitated by a 2005 legislative audit that cited the University for lacking a “secure wireless environment.” “We’re bound by legislative findings,” said Ric Simmons, ITS deputy chief information officer. Many students have had trouble connecting to the new system. Hundreds experienced difficulty with the multi-step connection process, while others were simply unable to connect. ITS specialists helped some students to get access, but others require updated hardware or software. Once the semester begins, ITS specialists will be available to help students from locations including dorms, Frey Computing Services Center, CEBA, the Student Union and an extended-hours location in the Information Commons at Middleton Library. Johnson questioned why ITS did not leave other wireless options open to students. He mentioned alternatives used by other universities, including parallel unsecure networks and virtual private networks. Thompson said the audit required an overhaul to the new, secured system as soon as the technology became available. “It became feasible for us to upgrade everything,” she said. “It’s not really a choice that we’ve got.” Melody Childs, ITS deputy chief information officer, said no particular security incident catalyzed the shift to “lsusecure.” She said the switch to the new system was more preventative than reactive. “What we’re really trying to do is prevent people’s private information from being snagged,” Childs said. Johnson expressed concern that there was not more student involvement in the decision to switch to the new system. He said the Student Technology Fee Oversight Committee, a body of students and administrators designed to monitor Student Technology Fee expenditures, was not a part of the process. “Apparently the Student Tech Fee Committee wasn’t consulted at all,” Johnson said.
—–Contact Daniel McBride at [email protected]