The Clarkson Turnip:The University's Initiative to Speed Internet
Leland Krumenacker
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: Features
This article is a work of fiction and any reference to persons real or imaginary is likely intended, but in the best of taste.
Citing slower internet connections and high traffic, the Office of Information Technology at Clarkson University, or OIT, announced last Friday that a new set of measures to speed internet connection and accessibility on campus have been decided upon. "Our students have voiced their complaints regarding internet connections on campus, and as the managers of Clarkson's internet network, it is our responsibility to make sure these concerns are addressed and dealt with," said a member of Clarkson's OIT. "We need to confront the problems our students are facing. Online resources are essential for students to complete their studies, so in the name of scholasticism we must try to make online educational resources more readily available and available at higher speeds." Students who were told that internet issues on campus would hopefully be resolved were ecstatic. "Bout time," said one student, "I'm tired of slow internet, lag on games has been unbearable." With the new initiative, slow loading times and internet latency, often associated with computer games, will be a thing of the past, the member of the OIT said. "We can assure that latency for student's gaming experiences will no longer be an issue once these measures are initiated."
An e-mail sent out to Clarkson staff explained parts of the new measure. "We feel that the internet is a vital part for the modern education, and our new internet system should reflect that. Starting at the resumption of school from winter break, Clarkson's internet will be controlled so that internet traffic relating educational uses will be given priority over other internet traffic. Web sites which use large amounts of our system's bandwidth and do not serve an educational purpose will be given limited availability, or may be blocked altogether if the need arises. Websites containing pornographic content will be blocked from the system due to the high usage of bandwidth used by students to visit these sites, besides other reasons for it to be banned as well. Other types of sites which serve no educational purpose will also be blocked. This is an important first step forward in solving our internet problems." The e-mail went on to explain other types of websites which would be blocked or given limited bandwidth, mostly high-usage recreational or communication websites, amongst those will be included MMORPGs, or Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games. These types of games, which include the popular World of Warcraft and others, will likely be blocked from Clarkson's servers due to the large amount of bandwidth used. "I'm glad these silly game websites will be banned," said a faculty member after a meeting to discuss the new regulations. "These games are terrible for students, and get in the way of their work. I hope they ban all non-educational websites, they're such a waste of time."
Citing slower internet connections and high traffic, the Office of Information Technology at Clarkson University, or OIT, announced last Friday that a new set of measures to speed internet connection and accessibility on campus have been decided upon. "Our students have voiced their complaints regarding internet connections on campus, and as the managers of Clarkson's internet network, it is our responsibility to make sure these concerns are addressed and dealt with," said a member of Clarkson's OIT. "We need to confront the problems our students are facing. Online resources are essential for students to complete their studies, so in the name of scholasticism we must try to make online educational resources more readily available and available at higher speeds." Students who were told that internet issues on campus would hopefully be resolved were ecstatic. "Bout time," said one student, "I'm tired of slow internet, lag on games has been unbearable." With the new initiative, slow loading times and internet latency, often associated with computer games, will be a thing of the past, the member of the OIT said. "We can assure that latency for student's gaming experiences will no longer be an issue once these measures are initiated."
An e-mail sent out to Clarkson staff explained parts of the new measure. "We feel that the internet is a vital part for the modern education, and our new internet system should reflect that. Starting at the resumption of school from winter break, Clarkson's internet will be controlled so that internet traffic relating educational uses will be given priority over other internet traffic. Web sites which use large amounts of our system's bandwidth and do not serve an educational purpose will be given limited availability, or may be blocked altogether if the need arises. Websites containing pornographic content will be blocked from the system due to the high usage of bandwidth used by students to visit these sites, besides other reasons for it to be banned as well. Other types of sites which serve no educational purpose will also be blocked. This is an important first step forward in solving our internet problems." The e-mail went on to explain other types of websites which would be blocked or given limited bandwidth, mostly high-usage recreational or communication websites, amongst those will be included MMORPGs, or Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games. These types of games, which include the popular World of Warcraft and others, will likely be blocked from Clarkson's servers due to the large amount of bandwidth used. "I'm glad these silly game websites will be banned," said a faculty member after a meeting to discuss the new regulations. "These games are terrible for students, and get in the way of their work. I hope they ban all non-educational websites, they're such a waste of time."
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