Wolfgang, I appreciate your constructive
criticism of my admittedly heated diatribe. It is the culmination of 4 years
of ongoing frustration with the network admin. I am not having a bad day, in
fact I enjoyed this Saturday very much with my 6 year old son Evan. The reason
I am "spouting off" is because I am sick and tired of hearing in the press
(whether it is the Argonaut, Daily Snooze (formerly the Idahonian ) or
wherever) how well connected we are. So what!!??? It doesn't
work!!!
I would jsut like to clarify my position to
address a few of your comments and to make my position better
understood:
1. I, respect Sam as much or
more than many, and am only providing a point-counterpoint argument, of which
he is quite used to from me by now, and in fact commonly encourages. Sam
has always provided advocacy on the students behalf and I am sure he
understands my strong feelings.
.
2. I have never left school, I jsut took it home
except for classes, I am in fact graduating next month.
3. Best thing I ever did was to starve one
semester to obtain a real machine. (capable of actual multi-tasking +
)
4. The next best thing I did was to employ a
private and consistent ISP.
5. Point taken, I could "take it to the top" or
whatever to address these problems. Unfortunately, I neither have the time,
patience, nor desire, to deal with bureaucracy over something that may or may
not be fixed. I have tried over the years to get to the bottom of certain
things, with mixed results. As a fee paying student I do have a right to
pursue these things, but it is not my job. Especially, when I would rather
consume my thoughts with pursuits Geographic in nature.
6. When I talk derogatory about "them" I mean
nothing personal against any one person or postion.
7. The actual "wiring" is undeniably
a tremendous FUTURE asset/boon for the UI.
8. At this rate, the FUTURE Asset may become
obselete to wireless technology by the time they figure out how to
run it.
9. I make no claim to understand the
intricacies of running a network as large as this, and I am sure there are
many many things that are far beyond my conprehension. The closest I
have come to a network is being a "cable tech" during the
Communication Infrastructure Renewal project at WSU, where I installed
and terminated Backbone copper, fiber, coax and Cat 5 station cable. I know
nothing about running one. Shahab would would be the one who probably "really
knows" where the problems lie in terms of managing the network. Anymore
insight from him on the subject would be valuable.
10. However, I am not completely blind to
what goes on at the U, and with all due respect, you are
wrong Wolfgang if you think that the current people can handle this
job.(Perhaps the personnel have recently changed for the better so i will
recant this statement if someone who REALLY knows what goes on up there can
tune us in)
11. You are also sorely mistaken to think
that Mr Hoover can(or would) fix this overnight. And here is why ( in my
opinion);
The biggest single problem is that all
that money was spent to build the network, but no sufficient funds
were allocated to retain personnel capable of running a network of
this magnitude. We may have had some people who were able to in the
past, BUT WE CAN NOT RETAIN them. This is because a good network
admin person can go to the Seattle and make twice as much $$$ or more in a
heartbeat. Meanwhile, the U is left with relying every "Tom, Dick, or
Harry" that comes along and thinks they can fill the shoes. Please someone "in
the know" either object or confirm my stance here. ( YOU know who you
are)
So to close my wordy argument,
until these above-mentioned facts are recognized and they keep trying to get
by with "wannabes" running a system of this complexity, the
end-users (students) are going to continue to suffer.
meanwhile, "oh look in the news, the UI is really
wired!"
RICK