Fiat LuxNovember 26, 2002 The Student Newspaper of Alfred University Alfred University experiences network problems BY ERIC BALDWIN Web site. personal computers on the net- Although Morling acknowledges network to a virtual standstill. STAFF WRITER Everyone from students to work, according to a number of AU that there are problems with the Infected computers are traced administrators has been affected. students. network at times, he points out and disconnected from the net- The computer network at AU has Information Technology Services One problem they face is the that they are fighting an uphill bat- work, Morling said. They are then experienced increasing slowdowns personnel are working hard to increased cost of contacting people tle with limited resources. repaired and reconnected to the and Internet interruptions since combat all problems as they arise. outside of Alfred without access to Not only users strain the system rest of the system. the start of the semester, causing High levels of Internet usage on e-mail. Some students have resort- at AU, but also anyone in the To combat the problem, AU is problems for students and campus campus cause much of the prob- ed to making long distance phone world who logs on to the AU site, switching to a wireless service organizations. lem, so the system is usually at its calls when an e-mail would suffice. Morling said. provider and increasing band- “It is definitely impacting my worst when people need it the A more serious problem for stu- In addition to the normal load, width by 50 percent over life,” said one student, who pre- most. dents is that computer problems hackers have recently infected AU Thanksgiving break. Because ferred not to be named. “My girl- “Whenever we expand the have hindered the completion of computers with viruses that initi- there will be more bandwidth, the friend at home called me complain- bandwidth, there is an increase in class assignments. ate “denial of service attacks.” network should be able to handle a ing that I’m ignoring e-mails I can’t usage to offset it,” according to “For three days in a row I could- These hackers aren’t AU students, significantly higher load. even retrieve.” Adrian Morling, assistant director n’t log onto Blackboard,” said but through viruses unintentional- For now, AU students must The network has experienced of ITS. Shawn Murrey, a junior art and ly downloaded onto AU hard dri- endure some delays and hope that frequent slowdowns, during which Students have been affected by design major. Murrey was not able ves, thousands of messages are upcoming system upgrades hold it sometimes takes several min- the difficulties they sometimes to complete his assignment until being sent within the system using the key to a faster and more secure utes to open a single file, e-mail or face using AU computers or their the night before it was due. up bandwidth and bringing the network. ❍ SAB Comedian Economic effects of war explored BY BRANDON THURNER Fund at AU. Sophomore English Iraq and slow oil production from NEWS EDITOR major and SMIF treasurer Ryan elsewhere in the region. Love expressed optimism that the However, diverse resources lead A war with Iraq might have club can handle such stock market to oil contracts being signed adverse effects on Alfred instability. months in advance, meaning University students’ pocketbooks “Whenever the nation goes to Americans are already paying and mixed results with the nation- war, the stock market responds higher gasoline costs in anticipa- al economy. with a sharp decline,” said Love. tion of a war, clarified Rasmussen. “Financial companies are less “SMIF already is positioned to In determining the costs of a inclined to hire with the uncertain- handle such an event as right now possible war, Taylor distinguishes ty of war,” said Travis Taylor, assis- we are holding a large cash posi- the difference between short- and tant professor of economics. tion.” long-run costs. The short-term Taylor explained the drag a war AU students will also feel a effect would be a stimulus on the with Iraq would put on the stock crunch at the gas pumps as crude national economy through market. oil prices rise in times of war. A increased government spending, The market does not like uncer- five to ten dollar raise in a barrel of stated Taylor. tainty and any conflict would cause oil will roughly translate into a 30 “We’re not talking about pennies volatility and therefore a drop-off to 50 cent raise in the cost of a gal- here,” said Taylor. in the labor market supply, lon of gasoline, explained Taylor. The Congressional Budget explained Taylor. Thomas Rasmussen, professor Office estimates a price tag of $40 The stock market also influences of political science, agrees that war SEE ECONOMIC, PAGE 3 PHOTO BY JARD TETZ the Student Managed Investment would disrupt oil supplies from Comedian Chris Johnson entertains Knight Club crowd Nov. 15. Student Entertainer Celebration of Ramadan continues BY BRANDON THURNER women all should not fast due to health NEWS EDITOR concerns. The young, the healthy and any- one else of capacity should participate in Ramadan is a time of sharing, under- fasting, said Robana. standing and self-reflection for Muslims “Like all fasting in every religious tra- and their families. dition, Ramadan reminds believers that “It’s nice for people to respect another’s they owe God everything,” said professor faith and honor other students regardless of religion Thomas Peterson. of their religious beliefs,” said Assistant The Alfred University community Professor of French Zakia Robana. should realize the richness of the Islamic Ramadan serves as a reminder of who religious tradition. Islam is a highly devel- you are: a human being of need and in oped religion in terms of ritual, theology need, explained Robana. Ramadan is a and history, stated Peterson. time that helps with understanding other Now more than ever, knowledge of PHOTO BY HILARY LEWIS people and is meant to be peaceful. Islam is important. Senior Eric Zuckerman and his band played the Knight Club Nov. 16, thrilling the audience. “To me, Ramadan is a time for self- “I think AU students should care about reflection as well as a time to experience Ramadan because [of] what those who are less fortunate experi- 9/11 and the recent Charitable tradition continues ence on a daily basis,” stated junior com- sniper shootings have munication studies major Farida Farouk. portrayed Islam as a BY TIFANE WILLIAMS Orvis Gymnasium and with the Index Ramadan, which began on Nov. 6 this violent religion in which STAFF WRITER help of AIDS Rochester, a non- Issue 6 Volume 96 year, is not a fixed holiday as Muslims use I don’t agree,” said profit agency that caters to AIDS A & E . 7, 8, 9 a lunar calendar. The holiday begins 11 Farouk. The AIDS charity basketball awareness, Umoja, an AU student Features . 5, 6, 7, 8 days ahead of the year before and may AU provides game not only raised money for a organization, sponsored the News . 3, 4, 5 begin in the winter or even the summer, Ramadan observers good cause, but it brought people fundraiser. Tickets were $5 and Op/Ed . 2, 3 said Robana. with a room in the together, according to Umoja the proceeds went directly to Sports . 10, 11, 12 “You fast from fajr, or dawn, until sun- chapel to say their president Laura Karikpo. AIDS Rochester. AU alone raised down everyday,” said Robana. prayers. Despite this “It was fun and we were very over $1,000. With an exciting per- The act of not eating from sunrise to accommodation, Farouk successful,” said Karikpo. formance by the Alfred Steppas at Our Roving Reporter raises the sunset brings to light what being poor is expressed interest in Alfred University and Alfred halftime, AU and ASC collectively issue of safety on campus. See like and helps observers understand other starting a Muslim asso- State College played against each raised $1,822.60. what your fellow students think people, stated Farouk. ciation on campus to other in honor of the Seventh The charity fundraiser brought about security in Alfred on p. 6. Robana cautions that not all observers promote Ramadan and Annual AIDS Charity Basketball ASC students and many AU stu- should fast. Young children, the mentally SEE RAMADAN, PAGE 3 Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 16. dents, freshmen in particular, and and physically ill, elderly and pregnant The event was held in ASC’s SEE AIDS CHARITY, PAGE 5 November 26, 2002 Opinion / Editorial — Page 2 Fiat Lux COLUMN Fiat Lux B-ball schedule needs reworking All share blame for BY BRYAN SICK when students are on campus and Regarding the lone home game MANAGING EDITOR able to attend. against Hilbert College tonight — In recent years fan attendance one of five before the semester is If anyone clipped out at games has been embarrassing. over — the team wants to get network problems the winter sports Over the course of the fall sched- three games in before schedule from last issue ule, it was common to have well Thanksgiving break after six In recent weeks, most students have probably noticed that it has in anticipation of cheer- under 100 fans cheering on our soc- weeks of practicing, according to become increasingly difficult to get access to the Internet or e-mail ing on the Saxons cer teams. head men’s basketball coach Jay outside of the AU network. throughout the season, basketball The same was true last spring Murphy. As it is now crunch time in the semester, student concern takes fans were probably quite disap- concerning attendance at lacrosse Is it really that important to on an added importance.