For many on-campus residents this ?free? Internet service is less free than it was just weeks ago. During the first weeks of the new system, the Office of Information Technology announced that students would have to authenticate weekly due to ?security concerns? associated with the beginning of the semester. In fact we were required to authenticate sporadically, sometimes two or three times per day. At other times the system was entirely non-functional.
I understand the need to ensure that student?s computers are not vulnerable to viruses and worms, but why spend money on a new system and stop charging students for the service?
When something is provided for ?free? that really means that instead of those who use the service paying for it, everyone is paying for it whether they use it or not. It takes away the student?s choice and hands it over to the administration.
High-speed Internet service is generally at least $30/month. OIT's service is $12.50/month for 5-10 times the speed. You can?t even get dial-up for that price! But now, instead of paying cash, we?re paying time and frustration. I?d rather pay cash.
Andrew Jorgensen
Provo