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October 2007
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Volume 36' Issue 2
WiFi; the Good, the
Bad, and the Unknown
Bj; Marie West
Wilkes Community College is constantly expanding to
accommodate students in their learning, teachers in their
training, and keep up with the technological world. One
big change occurred two years ago when WCC got its
WiFi, starting in Thompson Hall. WiFi stands for Wireless
Fidelity, which is a fancy way of saying anything with a
wireless signal. This would include your cell phone, car alarm,
and in the case of WCC, wireless internet.
Students are just beginning to enter this new realm of
learning. The mass majority of students have access to a
computer outside of campus, and most students have their
own PC, Those that don’t can visit the writing lab on campus
for their educational and some personal internet needs.
When students go out to purchase a new computer, more
and more are choosing laptops over desktops. Laptops give
portability, making it easier to carry school work around with
you. However, when it comes to WiFi, a recent survey taken
on campus shows only 10% of WCC students are aware
WCC has it. Those that do know about it are also the ones
that know how to access it. Yet, that leaves a lot of students
in the dark about the wireless internet resource available to
them.
When it comes to instructors and administrators there are
mixed feelings about laptops and WiFi in the classroom.
Few are opposed to laptop use on camps, and state specific
situations and uses for its purposes- during a computer
class it would be unnecessary, but for a research project it
would be helpful. Instructors are concerned that students
will be distracted by email, social networks, and even
internet chatting (and students agree). Everyone concedes
that instructors should monitor computer activity in their
classroom to ensure students are focusing on the lecture or
given task.
Even though some teachers feel laptops and WiFi are
unnecessary in their classroom, there are some that feel it is
very beneficial. Martin Moore, an ACA and English teacher
at WCC, takes his laptop with him to class to help him with
See WiFi Pg.5
By: Andrew Bryant
A big change for Wilkes Community College in 2007
was the new smoking sections, featured in numerous
locations around the campus. For students fresh out
of high school, this is a change from having 100%
tobacco free campuses to specific smoking areas. For
familiar faces, this is a big change for those used to
carrying their cigarettes around before and after class.
For Cathy Annas, the official Wilkes Community
College Tobacco Use Prevention Grant Coordinator,
this is a big success for promoting the health of our
college students. In 2006, the college was awarded
a Health Awareness Trust Fund, to promote public
health issues and reduce tobacco use by college
students.
For those questioning the necessity of these
designated smoking sections, the answer is simple: it
is believed that secondhand smoke has deadly effects
on people. A comprehensive scientific report from
the U.S. Surgeon General, Richard H. Carmona,
states there is no risk-free level of exposure to
secondhand smoke and that nonsmokers exposed to
secondhand smoke at home or work increase their
risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent,
and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.
The biggest example of secondhand smoke danger at
Wilkes College was at the front entrances to Hayes
Hall. Before the smoking areas came into effect
there were many people standing in front of the
doorway smoking. This became bothersome to most
nonsmokers coming to class. Most nonsmokers are now
comfortable with the smoking areas, and so are the smokers.
The new changes at the college seem to be going well, and
most people are reasonable about smoking their cigarettes in
these sections.
However, there are some smokers who are confused about
See Smoking Areas Pg.4
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WHAT’S INSIDE
llic Counseling Corner pg.2
Cougar Cry Hdirori.il Guidelines pg.2
College Calendar pg. 2
Baking and Pasrry Arrs pg.2
NC Healrh and Wellness pg. 4