Horizons Inside Winter 2011:Winter 2011 3/14/11 10:05 AM Page 14 Cover story 14 HORIZONS Horizons Inside Winter 2011:Winter 2011 3/14/11 10:05 AM Page 15 High-tech, high-touch, with President Obama By Kristi Evans orthern was selected as the site for President Barack Obama to announce his Wireless Innovation and Infrastructure Initiative, which would give at least 98 percent of NAmericans access to high-speed wireless services. Speaking to a full house in Vandament Arena on Feb. 10, Obama held up Northern’s WiMAX network as a leading example of broad - band’s capabilities. He also pointed to Marquette businesses such as Getz’s Clothiers that have grown because high-speed Internet allows them to export products to new global markets. White House staff members first Obama told the NMU audience contacted NMU for more informa - the government must invest in a tion on its WiMAX network shortly technology infrastructure to move before the president’s State of the information and create new markets, Union address. University adminis - much like it invested in the trators wondered if Obama might transcontinental railroad years ago to reference NMU in the speech after connect the country and spawn a alluding to his national wireless ini - nationwide economy. He said more tiative. When that didn’t happen, it than 90 percent of homes in South soon became obvious the White Korea subscribe to high-speed broad - House had something else in mind: band, but in the United States—the flying the president to Marquette to nation that created the Internet—it’s unveil details of the plan. only 65 percent. Horizons Inside Winter 2011:Winter 2011 3/14/11 10:05 AM Page 16 A warm welcome on a cold day About 900 students and 400 NMU and community members attended “For millions of Americans, the railway hasn’t showed The university partnered with technology leaders up yet,” Obama said. “You know this here in northern Intel, Lenovo, Motorola and Cisco to launch the network. Michigan. For a decade, this university has given a new It also relies on the cooperation of area municipalities. In laptop to every incoming student. Wi-Fi stretched across exchange for permission to install WiMAX equipment campus. But if you lived off campus, like most students rent-free on structures such as water towers, NMU allows here, you were largely out of luck. Broadband was often city governments non-commercial use of the network. too expensive to afford. And if you lived a bit further out, Police officers can access crime databases from laptops in you might have been completely out of luck because their vehicles. Firefighters can download blueprints on providers often won’t build networks where it’s not profitable. their way to burning buildings. Public works departments “So this university tried something new. You part - are able to remotely monitor pumps and equipment without nered with various companies to build a high-speed, next- having to build expensive, wired links to remote locations. generation wireless network. And you managed to install WiMAX gives NMU students equal access to course-relat - it with six people in only four days without raising ed content, now often comprised of high-resolution streaming tuition. Good job. Good job! … There’s a whole bunch media, graphics and interactive features. Students and faculty of stuff in Washington I would like to see done in four conducting research or scholarly activities in the field can also days with six people.” benefit from remote connectivity to the network. NMU is the only university in the country to operate "President Obama's visit was phenomenal recogni - its own WiMAX network. This fourth-generation (4G) tion for the innovative work NMU has accomplished on technology is capable of transferring data, voice and video at so many fronts—first the laptop culture and now distances far beyond what is available with traditional Wi-Fi. WiMAX,” said NMU President Les Wong. “His staff NMU celebrated the official rollout in August 2009. Now asked me, ‘What’s next?’ I'll have to give that some all NMU-issued laptops are WiMAX-enabled and the cov - thought. How fitting and appropriate that his wireless ini - erage area has expanded to roughly 40 square miles. tiative should be announced from NMU's campus. We The NMU Jazz Combo entertained the crowd An intimate setting in the PEIF’s Vandament Arena Horizons Inside Winter 2011:Winter 2011 3/14/11 10:05 AM Page 17 A thrill of a lifetime Many student volunteers helped at the event can be proud that President Obama hails us those young people and all Egyptians to as the nation's example of tomorrow's know America will continue to do every - wireless community." thing we can to support an orderly and gen - NMU gained significant international uine transition to democracy in Egypt.” media coverage, both related to President Obama was greeted upon Air Force Obama’s wireless initiative and his timely One’s arrival at Sawyer International Airport opening remarks about the revolution by Marquette Mayor John Kivela. He greet - unfolding in Egypt before President Hosni ed observers before being whisked off by his Mubarek stepped down. motorcade to downtown Marquette. The “We are witnessing history unfold,” he president enjoyed a sandwich at Donckers, said. “It’s a moment of transformation that’s then traveled the lakeshore route to campus taking place because the people of Egypt are to participate in a WiMAX demonstration calling for change. And they’ve turned out and deliver his speech. He was in town only in extraordinary numbers representing all a few hours, but the pride of NMU’s shin - ages and all walks of life. But it’s young ing moment in the national spotlight will people who’ve been at the forefront—a new linger much longer. As Wong enthusiastical - generation, your generation, who want their ly told the crowd, it was a great day to be a voices to be heard. Going forward, we want Wildcat. I Drew VanBuren, a senior who has had three tours of duty, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Student Kelli Polkinghorne sang the National Anthem. NMU President Les Wong and U.S. Senator Carl Levin gave opening remarks. WINTER 2011 17 Horizons Inside Winter 2011:Winter 2011 3/14/11 10:05 AM Page 18 Being able to see some of the "behind- the-scenes" activity and what all went into making this happen, was incredible. This unique opportunity allowed me to use my leadership skills in a way I never imaged possible while going to school here. —Dan Freeborn, senior, graphic communications I had the honor to volunteer under the White House with the ADA, or the Americans with Disability Act. I stood near the security entrance with the Secret Service waiting for those who needed assistance. From this experience I was able to gain a practical experience in community settings because I was representing not only NMU, but the White House and the President. I can’t wait to someday share my experiences with my own classrooms. —Renee Smith, senior, elementary education What I remember the most is President Obama's comment, “Hustle harder, America.” —Scott Wanhala, senior, public relations/ art and design The day before the event I didn't think I was going to be able to go, since I didn't have an invite; I ended up volunteering, sitting front row, and shaking the hand of the first African American president! Obama has a presence like none other I have ever experienced. What he had to say about our WiMAX Internet network made me appreciate it so much more. —Emily Goodman, sophomore, physical geography Because NMU is a smaller school, I sometimes feel as though we go unnoticed on a national level. It was such a great feeling for everyone to know that we are at the cutting edge of technology and that we have been recognized for it by the leader of our nation. —Mollie Anderson, junior, communication studies 18 HORIZONS Horizons Inside Winter 2011:Winter 2011 3/14/11 10:06 AM Page 19 Joe Lubig, Lauren Fusilier and Paul Trdan watch as the president converses with students in Big Bay and Negaunee, “beamed in” via WiMAX. NMU’s WiMAX: A model for the country By Kristi Evans resident Barack Obama said he felt like a Star Trek it’s second nature to us because we have daily access to it character “being beamed across the Upper at Northern. Technology is making the world more acces - PPeninsula” during a 12-minute WiMAX sible. Kids who normally wouldn’t get out of the U.P. can demonstration preceding his speech at NMU. take virtual tours of farms throughout the state for a unit Obama stood before two monitors in the Wildcat on agriculture or even travel to Colonial Williamsburg. Room of the Berry Events Center and interacted via Classrooms from different school districts can collaborate videoconference with a high school chemistry class in on similar experiments. There’s a lot of potential.” Negaunee and 7th and 8th graders at Powell Township Trdan, a post-baccalaureate secondary education School in Big Bay. Before being transported to these major from Marquette, said WiMAX showcased an inter - locations, he was greeted briefly by NMU Education active means of reaching out to neighboring classroom Professor Joe Lubig ’91 BS, ’00 MAE and students communities “when discussing similar academic activities, Lauren Fusilier and Paul Trdan. social challenges such as bullying and global issues such as “Originally we were going to show how we can the civil unrest in Egypt.