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Page 3 The Compass March 2, 2004 CAMPUS NEWS Campus receives wireless Internet access HP i ' . j Mark A. McKinley Network Administrator Tim Barclift instructs Jermaine Purdie on Inow to use the wireless networl. IVlark A. McKinley mamckinley@adelphia.net Staff Writer An important step in bringing 21=' century teclinology to Elizabeth City State University was made in the spring semester by offering wireless Internet access to its students. Wireless access allows the connection of the Internet through radio-frequency signals instead of traditional copper cable. This allows an area, such as a dormitory, to easily be “wired” without having to physically install network connections. Since less labor and material are used, this is a cheaper solution. According to Derrick L. Wilkins, Director of Academic Computing and End User Support Services, wireless ac cess is located “at strategic points on campus.” These locations are the dor mitories, the University Center, the Com muter Center, the 1 st floor of the Jimmy R. Jenkins Science Building, and the In formation Technology Center. Future plans include adding Moore Hall, Griffin Hall, Lester Hall, and the Chancellor’s Boardroom.Kuchumbi Hayden, Network Engineer, said that there is, “0% droppage,” because of precise place ment of the wireless access points, de vices that broadcast the signal. There are two wireless access points on every dormitory floor to give ample coverage. In large open areas, such as the Univer sity Center and the Commuter Center, only one wireless access point is needed since there is less structural interference. Having wireless access points installed throughout the campus is only one part of connecting to the Internet. A wireless network card is needed for stu dents to receive the signal. This net work card is installed in a desktop com puter or laptop and allows students to connect to the Internet. Tim Barclift, Network Administrator, supervises the installation and setup of the wireless network cards. In order to access the new technology, students must purchase the wireless network cards and make an appointment with Barclift, who will set up their computers. The wireless network cards, “range from $50 to $70,” Barclift said. During the setup proce dure, the student’s computer is scanned for viruses and spyware to ensure a fast connection to the net work. This procedure can take several hours to several days to complete. Stu dents are provided with a free copy of Norton’s Anti-Virus and the computer is set up to automatically download in formation to keep the it protected from new viruses. So far this year, 61 comput ers have been set up to use the wire less internet access and 12 are in the process of being connected. There has been such a great student demand that a conference room in the Information Technology Center has been converted to set up the computers. Other mem bers of the staff have also been help ing with the setup procedure. There have also been some parts of the wireless Internet process that need to be monitored. Students should be cautious of what is down loaded into the computer. Also, there have been problems using the Blitzz brand of wireless network cards. This brand has not been able to access the wireless network. For more information on wireless Internet access, contact Tim Barclift, Network Administrator at 335-3531. Low tuition bolsters enrollment Elizabeth A. Martins eamartins@mail.ecsu.edu StaffWriter New students, including fresh men and transfer students, are enroll ing at Elizabeth City State University and many are taking advantage of the North Carolina Scholarships and the university’s low tuition costs. According to Mr. Grady Deese, the director of admissions and recruit ment, the tuition and fee costs at ECSU are cheaper than those of other schools around the piedmont area in cluding Fayetteville State University, East Carolina University, and Meth odist College. According to recent statistics, ECSU is becoming more diverse. Its student body includes Asian Americans, Africans, and an increase in its white students. Even though the university is a historically black insti tution, it is welcoming to many differ ent types of people. ‘The past year was indeed a spe cial time in the history of ECSU," Chancellor Mickey Burnim stated in a spring 2004 publication. “We offered students more than 35 undergraduate degrees with a new bachelor’s degree program in pharmaceutical science and a new master’s degree in biology. By increasing our offerings and im proving our living and learning environ ment, we were able to boost our en rollment to 2,308 students, the high est enrollment in the history of the university.” Modernized Web page designed for students Travis Hubbard thecompass@hotmail.com StaffWriter Damond Nollan, the university’s Web Master, revealed Elizabeth City State University’s re designed web page in early Decem ber, but improvements are still being made. “My goal in the new design was to produce a more functional site that could be easily navigable by the various groups who visit the site,” he said. Nollan believes that the new website is more interactive, opposed to the old website that was full of needless pages to read. Nollan said the new website should be of assis tance to all audiences whereas the old website was of more benefit to professors. “I’m trying to make the website a home for students as well as staff,” said Nollan. The website is also equipped with new features such as student news. This fea ture should allow stu dents to keep up with events going on around campus. Student news will not only consist of calendars with test dates, but also informa tion about upcoming parties and events. Another addition to the website is the prospective stu- dents feature created for students in terested in life at ECSU. The prospec tive student section includes informa tion on academics, admissions, hous ing, and financial aid. The alumni feature is also an ad dition that is expected to be greatly appreciated. It consists of alumni an nouncements and upcoming alumni events. “Navigation is a lot easier,” said Nollan. There are not as many links as there were in the old site. Hubert Leggett, an associate profes sor, agrees that the navigation is a lot easier, but has concerns about the position of Blackboard. “ I feel that the old layout was much easier to reach Blackboard,” Leggett said, “The new design has a few extra clicks.” Leggett said his overall assessment of the site was good, and he felt that the finish prod uct would be of high quality., Although the new website has been modernized and improved the most questionable feature of the website still remains; listing the phone and room numbers of board ing students. “I guess it’s kind of like a phone book,” Nollan said. “I really don't see the danger in it." However many students dis agree, particularly females. I feel that it should only be ac cessible by ECSU students,” Demetrus Rorie, a sophomore Com puter Science major said. Nollan said that if anyone feels discomfort with having his or her name in the display, he should complete a name removal form obtained from Bruce Boyd in housing. Internships teach experience DeTra L. Stith depot9@hotmail.com Copy Editor The ad for the job states that the com pany is looking for someone with experience. You have the other qualifications which include a de gree and a high grade point average, but the most important qualification, experience, is what you are lacking. "Internships are very important for stu dents. It gives them hands on experiences in the field they are majoring in," Brutus Jackson, direc tor of career services, said. Students are also introduced to the po litical climate of the business world and can learn how to network. Often assistance in the form of monetary pay is given, unless you are working with a non-profit organization. "In the classroom you are taught theory so you need practical application added to it," Jackson said. Students who work with a particular com pany will find that after graduation they are most likely to find employment with that company or another one. It is a golden opportunity and Jack son feels that most students should have at least one internship before graduation. “Internships are very important because employers rarely want to take chances on people without work experience, but the only way people get jobs is if they’ve had internships. They [in ternships] are a building block and a great foun dation for your career,” Timothy Lewis, a junior Business major, said. “We don’t have enough students with a 2.0-2.5 grade point average (g.p.a.) taking advan tage in order for them to gain the benefits in Ca reer Services," said Jackson. Every student who graduates in May will not have a 3.0 g.p.a. or higher, so these students will have needed an internship. “These students will need an internship just as bad as a man who needs a heart trans plant," Jackson said. “When you don’t have an internship, it is almost like you are coming fresh out of high school, that is just how competitive it is," Lewis said. Jackson says there are no negatives and no downsides to internships and he encourages 2004 Calendar 27 28 cd Vh ' o 2 everyone to get involved, because he can help you, but he can’t force you to take advantage. He says internships are about eliminating the doubts and putting in its place a positive can do type of atti tude. A student, Joanelle Baptiste interned at National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) through the Department of Veteran Affairs. “I learned a lot and a gained a lot of expe rience as well as a wide range of people to net work with from different cultures,” Baptiste, a jun ior Applied Mathematics major, said. Baptiste had worked in the Information Technology Center (ITC) with databases before in terning and said that her internship helped her un derstand the practical application of her education and NAFEO didn’t expect her to know everything. They showed her what to do. At Career Services you can learn how to dress, display proper body language, and interview for an internship. Workshops are also given on resume writing, interviewing tips, and networking. For more information contact Brutus Jack son or Sandra Gibson at Career Services at H.L. Trigg Building in Room 103. o ;h cd 8 9 10 11 12 15 16 18 19 20 Friday Departmental Black History Displays End 9am JSC Lobby in room 138 Saturday CIAATournament Ends Parents in Cyberspace 9am Griffin Hall room 191 Lyceum Series: “Parallel Journeys End” Sam, Fine Arts Gallery Tuesday Sex, Drugs, & Alcohol Presentation 7pm, Bias Hall Lobby Viiings Baseball vs. Apprentice school Wednesday 113th Founders Day Convocation 10am, Floyd L. Robinson Auditorium Sex Education Presentation 7pm, Butler Hall Lobby Thursday Intro to MS Publisher 2000 3pm, ITC Building Room 142 Great Decision Lecture Series: Weapons of Mass Destuction: What Now After 9/11? 2pm, G.R. Little Library room 203 Lady Vikings Tennis vs. Bowie State University 1 ;30pm Friday Stress Management Presentation 8pm, Doles Hall Lobby Vikings Golf: CIAA Western Division Tourney Begins Saturday Mid-term Week Begins Viking Baseball vs. Bluefield Stae University Lady Vikings Tennis vs. Saint Pauls College 1pm Lady Vikings Softball vs. Fayetteville State University Sunday Vikings Golf: CIAA Western Division Tourney Ends fVlonday Lady Vikings Tennis vs. Shaw University 1pm Tuesday ROTC Spring Awards Ceremony 2pm, ROTC Building Great Decision Lecture Series: Europe Today: room 203 Computer Workshops for Farm Families 6pm, ITC Building, room 110 Drug Awereness Presentation 7pm, Mitchell-Lewis Lobby Health Awereness Presentation 7pm, Bias Hall Lobby Viking Baseball vs. Longwood College Wednesday Spring Break Pledge Drive 11:30 am, Bedell Hall Cafeteria Thursday Music Student Recital 2pm, Floyd L. Robinson Auditorium Lady Vikings Softball vs. Winston-Salem State 1pm Friday Mid-term Week Ends University Choir Spring Concert Begins Sam, Location: TBA Monday Spring Break Begins Lady Vikings Tennis vs. Johnson C. Smith University 1pm Tuesday Vikings Baseball vs. Longwood College 1pm Computer Workshops for Farm Families 6pm, ITC Building, Rm 110 Thursday Health Fair 10am, Caldwell/ Hoffler Infirmary Friday Vikings Baseball vs. Shaw University Saturday Spring Break Ends Lady Vikings Softball vs. Winston-Salem State 1pm