Students Stressed by Wi-Fi Issues and Lack of Assistance from Loyola’s Information Technology Team

This story was written by Adeline Sauer

Since the start of classes on Aug. 29, some students have reported experiencing issues connecting to Loyola’s LUC Wi-Fi network. This network is designated for students and faculty on campus according to Loyola’s ITS website. 

The ITS team didn’t respond to multiple requests for an interview from The Phoenix.

Sophomore Claire Peter-Seymour said she submitted work order requests to express her concern about the LUC Wi-Fi network. Work order requests are submitted through the Loyola Facilities website and are a way for students to bring up their questions about networking, appliances, furniture, fire alarms, etc. However, Peter-Seymour said she has submitted multiple work order requests about the Wi-Fi issues and has received no response.

“The Wi-Fi genuinely just doesn’t work at all, no matter how many work orders I put in,” Peter-Seymour said, “I’ve talked to my RA, Val, she said people came in and fixed it, but it’s not fixed.”

The unreliable connectivity to the Loyola Wi-Fi has induced stress and affected productivity for some students. First-year Mia Grace Conti Mica said before she enters her HONOR 101 lecture, she worries about whether or not she will be able to access the internet.

“It’s given me some anxiety knowing that there might be occasions that I may not be able to access my coursework,” Conti Mica, 19, said.

Not only are some students worrying about whether or not they can access their assignments, but which locations they will be able to access them from. Certain spots and classrooms on campus have proven to have more reliable internet connection than others, according to Conti Mica. 

Conti Mica said connecting to the LUC network in the Galvin Auditorium (located in the Sullivan Center) has been difficult. First year Audrey Strand said she had issues in her own dorm, Francis Hall. 

Sophomore Claire Peter-Seymour said she even had to miss an online meeting with the Student Accessibility Center (SAC), because of the poor Wi-Fi in Fairfield Hall, located about a 5 minute walk south from Loyola’s main campus.

“I ran across the street in my socks to go to a different building to connect to someone else’s Wi-Fi,” Peter-Seymour said.

Connecting to other students’ hotspots is one way in which students have tried to adapt to the Wi-Fi issues. Strand said the use of her personal hotspot has been helpful in accessing online content but she has seen other people in her classes unable to connect.

“I’ve had to use my personal hotspot in classes, which I’m grateful for because I know some people don’t have that,” Strand said. “I think Loyola should make sure we have access to Wi-Fi across campus.”

Featured image by Holden Green | The Phoenix