STREET BEAT

WHAT MOVIE OR TV SHOW DO YOU CURRENTLY LIKE WATCHING?

When it comes to its history with wireless connection, Pierce College is spotty.

Sure, there are pockets on campus where the Wi-Fi is strong. In fact, there are 25 hotspot locations that boost signal throughout campus.

But step into the Arts Center or the Center for Sciences, and the signal is essentially nonexistent. And in a world that requires constant digital communication, students will

“Ireallylike“TheLastofUs.”Ijust watch it because it’s cool. It’s based on thevideogameandIplaythevideo game.”

-Livia Pereira, Business major be forced to find these pockets of Wi-Fi to stay connected.

Pierce has to increase its Wi-Fi signal to encompass the entire campus.

According to Chief Information Officer Carmen Lidz, the infrastructure to improve wireless signal was expected to be completed by July 2020.

Another Roundup article from 2018 refers to the fact that the entire campus is running on only one gigabyte of WiFi. According to IT Manager

Mark Henderson, Wi-Fi capacity would be increased to a planned 10 gigabytes if Pierce received bond funding. But news about these changes are either nebulous or too few in between. Students are still dealing with limited Wi-Fi.

Some rooms have little to no Wi-Fi connection and no cell phone reception. In the event that something drastic happens on campus, there would be no way for students to be informed.

But this doesn’t only affect the student population. It has consequences for the Brahma community.

Take the recent addition of the Advanced Automotive Technology Building. In addition to providing space for up to 90 vehicles and 10 Electric Charging Stations, the building also includes water and energy efficient features. Nowhere is it mentioned that Wi-Fi was part of the package. Solutions are peppered within various articles— from purchasing new servers, working on databases and updating the entire infrastructure to updating the physical building before fiber optics can be installed. With more than 20,000 students enrolled on campus, Pierce needs to follow through with its plan to update the WiFi connection. Or we will continue to endure lost and spotty signals.

“Ireallylovewatching“The Batman” and I have watched it more thanIprobablyshould.Ialwaysgo back to that movie when I'm bored orsomething.SometimesIjustgo backtowatchspecificscenes.”

-James Noverola, Business AdministrationandFinancemajor