TL20050203_001 "Baltimore's #1 College Paper - Published Twice-Weekly - www.thetowerlight.com Thursday, 2/03/05 Meeting discusses USM resolutions 5 2010 plan places advising as priority 5 Dance relies on technology effects ?*? Messing unworthy of making a 'Date Departments Opinion 3 News 5 Police Blotter. 8 Paw Prints 10 Arts 15 Scheer Cinema 16 Sports 24 In This Corner. 24 BankShots 22 Classifieds 19 Caret debuts wireless network Upgraded system allows for Internet access across campus Brian Stelter The Towerlight Towson University presented the largest wireless network in the Baltimore metropolitan area at a cord-cutting ceremony Wednesday afternoon. Using a wireless card, computer users will be able to check e-mail, send instant messages and surf the Internet from most locations on the University's 328-acre campus. """"I think it's a big leap for Towson,"""" senior economics major Al Asikin said while browsing the Web in the Potomac Lounge. """"I don't have to be stuck in some lab or library. I can go out to the Beach or [anywhere] on campus and look up whatever I need."""" About 200 students, faculty members and administrators attended the cord-cutting event in the University Union. The Office of Technology Services set up a temporary Internet cafe for the ceremony. """"This is the future,"""" President Robert Caret told the attendees. """"This is a huge, huge step for this institution."""" Senior Vice President and Chief Fiscal Officer David Harnage said OTS had recorded over 800 connections to the wireless network in recent days, before the service was even officially launched. """"[We] will be able to access information anytime, anywhere,"""" Harnage said. """"How the technology will impact teaching, learning and research will now be up to the faculty and students."""" Wireless coverage extends across the majority of the campus, except for residence halls. Jim Monroe, OTS' assistant director for networking and communications services, said access points were not installed in the dorms due to the University's existing contract with Comcast. Wireless access has also been enabled for several popular outdoor locations, including the Beach, Newell Field and Burdick Field. Even the baseball stadium and the Softball field behind the Towson Center are enabled for wireless access. """"The electronics allow you to connect to the network anywhere in that building,"""" Harnage said. """"And, when you leave the building, you do not lose that connection. Whether you're on Burdick Field, Unitas Stadium, outside the library - your connection will be active no matter where you are at Towson University."""" At the beginning of the project, a site survey was performed to determine the necessary number and location of the wireless access points. """"We placed our access points - nearly 400 - according to this survey and feel that they should handle the usage requirements,"""" Monroe said. If users report slow access speeds or congested network access, OTS will adjust the network or deploy additional access points. Students take a 'Break' to compete Lisa Johnson/The Towerlight Jhon Yi, a junior computer science major, displays his skills in a breakdancing competition against other audience members during Wednesday's Women of Break event in the Union. At the kickoff event, Caret reminisced about how technology has changed since he arrived at Towson University. """"To go from that 300 baud modem or that set of punch cards to the first fiber optic cable that was laid in the middle of campus, to be able to sit anywhere on the campus and do what you need to do...I just think it's almost like a miracle,"""" he said. The University spent $3.2 million on the wired and wireless network upgrade. """"Wireless is a growing technology on college campuses,"""" Cisco account manager Larry Fluger said. """"Your leadership realizes that and has really moved far ahead of the curve."""" Cisco technology was used to build the project's backbone. See NETWORK, page 6 Today High 42 Low 28 Friday High 42 Low 28 Saturday High 43 Low 25 Sunday High 43 Low 29 Monday High 43 Low 31"
