Wireless Internet available at Pitt, but in limited places

Although the majority of Pitt’s classrooms are not yet equipped with wireless Internet… Although the majority of Pitt’s classrooms are not yet equipped with wireless Internet connections, many students are not aware of the number of facilities that do offer wireless services.

“We do have it,” said Computing Services and Systems Development director Jinx Walton. “We have public connections available.”

Laptop-equipped students can go to several places, including the Commons Room of the Cathedral of Learning, Second Plate in Posvar Hall, Hillman Library and the food court at the Petersen Events Center, to log on to the University’s network without needing to plug in to a wall socket.

However, Walton acknowledged that these facilities are not as widely known among students as she would like.

“We’re considering taking out ads in the paper to let students know what’s available,” Walton said. “More students need to be made aware of what we’ve got.”

She added that students could have an active voice in determining what other certain locations might benefit from such services. CSSD was, she said, “open to recommendations for public wireless connections for students.”

However, the move toward wireless Internet in the classroom is still in the beginning stages.

“It’s something that’s being evaluated,” Walton said.

Specifically, she said that a Classroom Technology Management Committee has been created to evaluate the logistics of installing the wireless equipment in the classrooms. A number of departments, including biology, geology, and the School of Law are looking into installing it in their own rooms.

But Walton acknowledged that as far as she knew, no solid timeframe exists for the installation of this equipment.

One instructor commented that if wireless Internet equipment were provided, it could cause some problems in the classroom.

“As a teacher, laptops in the classroom present different challenges,” said Marcus Paroske, a graduate student of communications who teaches the course Argument, Discussion, Debate and Public Speaking. “You never know whether a person is paying attention or playing solitaire.”

In spite of the problems, Paroske said additional wireless Internet services could only benefit the University in the long run. According to Paroske, it would attract students and increase Pitt’s reputation as a wired campus. He added that it only makes sense to implement Internet as an educational tool since enough students are familiar with it.

“Wireless Internet is inevitable. It’s coming. We might as well be at the forefront,” Paroske said.