 I’ll
admit it: I’m an Internet junkie. My computer is an extremely
useful tool for keeping track of news and friends scattered around
the state and the world.
So, when after only one blissful day online at University Highlands,
the campus Ethernet was shut off due to a series of problems with
viruses and ‘worms,’ I was disappointed to say the least.
Still, these things happen, and since my Ethernet connection was
back up in about 24 hours, I really had no complaints. Before I
could re-register to get online, I had to go through a page telling
me to install patches on my computer to protect it from future infection.
Fortunately, I learned from tech support that my version of Windows
was already immune to the virus. A few minutes later, I was back
online.
But all was not well quite yet. Thousands of students were coming
in on the next two days and about 98 percent of them were bringing
their computers along. As I learned from an interview Friday with
Douglas May, director of Academic Computing Services, if even 50-100
of these incoming students registered their computers online without
installing the necessary protection from the viruses, the entire
network could be shut off again.
Well guess what happened?
While I’ve had plenty of problems with the administration’s
handling of situations in the past, they did their job this time.
Warnings in bold print were posted on every residence hall I saw,
telling incoming students to, under no circumstances, get online
until they were sure their computers were safe. The signs even told
them that doing so would bring ResNet down for an extended amount
of time. RAs were also told to warn students about the possible
consequences.
Despite these warnings, enough students ignored them that the network
went down again.
The entire campus suffered because a small number of people ignored
what was right in front of them, even when the possible consequences
of their actions were clearly explained. Thanks guys. The human
capacity for such self-centered ignorance never ceases to amaze
me.
This trait doesn’t just apply to computer problems either,
from many students’ driving skills (or lack thereof) to general
approach to life, there seems to be a feeling of “I can do
whatever I want and I won’t ever have to pay for it.”
Maybe it just goes hand in hand with the fact that Appalachian has
an affluent student body. In my experience, the students paying
their own bills become more responsible in a hurry. There’s
nothing quite like living off ramen noodles for a month to teach
one humility.
Whatever the reason, the consequences usually end up hurting others,
and the Internet troubles are no exception. One can hope that seeing
the Internet fall due to some students’ ignorance and apathy
will make the incoming students more careful, more wary of how their
decisions affect others. But I doubt it. Life will probably have
to bash such students on the head a few more times before they realize
they’re not the center of the world and never will be. |
