More dorms wired for ResNet

The system provides a direct e-mail connection and 55 cable channels. More students than ever will be hooking up this fall -- to ResNet, that is. ResNet, the University's fiber optic residential communications system, was installed in five new dormitories over the summer. It will give students enhanced telephone service, a computer connection to PennNet and access to a 55-channel cable television network. The dormitories affected are Hill House, Mayer Hall, Stouffer College House, Van Pelt College House and W.E.B. DuBois College House. Data Communications and Computing Services Project Coordinator Matthew Bixler said DCCS had to create new pathways throughout the dormitories to accommodate ResNet. The residences originally were not equipped to handle it. Bixler said construction for all of the dorms, excluding Mayer Hall, began May 25, and took 10 weeks to complete. Contractors began work on Mayer earlier this month and should be finished by the end of the fall semester. The installation process varied by building, he said. For Hill House and Stouffer College House, contractors had to install an enclosed metallic chaseway to run through each room in the five-level dormitory. And for Van Pelt and DuBois, contractors had to build a series of drywall soffits to accommodate the necessary facilities. Last summer, ResNet services were extended into High Rise East, High Rise South, Modern Language College House and Ware College House. After this summer's installations, the only residences that do not have access to ResNet services are the Castle, the Graduate Towers and the Quadrangle -- with the exception of Ware College House. Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone said her department faced tough choices when selecting dorms to be wired this summer. Officials still have not determined if the remaining buildings will be wired for ResNet next summer. "If we could wave a magic wand, we would do all of them," she said. But Simeone said the Quad's age would make installation complicated. "I wouldn't say it's impossible,'' she said. "But the Quad is very difficult and very expensive because it is a 100-year-old building in some parts."