Next school year UVSC students won't have to crowd into computer labs to use the Internet to write their papers or study for their midterms. If they have a laptop, they could use the Internet in the Hall of Flags, while eating in the student center or between classes -- for free.

UVSC now has free wireless Internet access for students, faculty and staff. It can be accessed by using a UVSC ID and password.

Former student body president Andrew Stone worked with administrators to change the policy. He said the students wanted free access to wireless because they need it.

"Students wanted it because Internet is becoming a huge part of just everyday life," Stone said.

One student wrote on UVSC's Web site that there was free wireless access at fast food restaurants and that it should be free at an institution of higher learning.

UVSC's Chief Information Officer Ray Walker said the network has a 5 megabit connection speed, but it changes often because the school is installing new hubs across campus.

Right now, about 90 percent of campus has wireless access, but some areas can't handle very much traffic. Walker said the best places to connect to the network are in the Hall of Flags, in the library and in the computer science building.

UVSC previously had wireless access, but it was provided for a fee, which paid for the entire system.

There was an initial fee of $25. Then users were charged $5 per month.

Stone said the fee wasn't too much for students, but they wouldn't pay it.

Now, the $300,000 yearly cost of the wireless network will be paid for from the school's budget. That means the cost of the network will be packaged into tuition. But it's something the students wanted.

"I think students are going to be excited. It's something that people have wanted," Stone said.

Before wireless was free, students who didn't pay the fee or have a laptop had to wait in line to use the school's computer labs. Now, Stone said the lines will be shorter and studying will be more convenient.

Walker said the school has had wireless access for six years. When they first instituted the old fee system they were one of the first colleges to offer it.

Brittani Lusk can be reached at 344-2549 or at blusk@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.