Study rooms' ethernet ports still inoperable

With the academic year well under way, ethernet ports in several study rooms in Forbes College, the Ellipse Dormitory and Witherspoon, Little and Buyers halls still do not work.

"We did some checking, and a number of data ports aren't working and have probably never been turned on," Director of Housing Tom Miller said.

"We're still trying to get the exact data on this, so we can figure out what the cost is going to be," Miller added. "It's going to take a while."

Only new or recently renovated buildings have ports, he said.

Camille Coates '06 has tried unsuccessfully to use the ethernet ports in several Ellipse study rooms.

"I have to listen to music online for a course," Coates said. "I can't do that [in the study room]. I also can't look stuff up for my paper. And I really don't like to study in my room."

Liz Losch '08, who often uses the study room in Witherspoon, said students no longer bring their computers because they know the ethernet port does not work.

David Sheng '06 works in the Forbes College Library and has noticed the same thing.

"A lot of people think that [the study room] is the computer room, but they're disappointed," Sheng said. "I briefly mentioned it to an administrator, but nothing happened."

Though the administration is aware of the nonfunctional ports, it is not seen as an urgent problem.

"We've already had some discussions with OIT about this," said Joseph Plaksa, associate director of housing.

"Not too many people are asking about this anymore," Miller said. "Most of the questions students raised were in the beginning of the year, but once they learned that the ports don't work, they stopped using them."