During the internet outage from this past week, while local and U.S. resident students could use hotspots and their phones’ data, international students were struggling to stay in contact with their families out of the country.
Most international students use numerous messaging apps, such as Facebook Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp, so they can communicate without a U.S. phone number. Messaging services were a little more difficult to use without internet or Wi-Fi access.
“Every day, I call my family many times in Vietnam, but the internet outage in the last few days has made it more difficult, so I can’t call as often,” first-year business administration major Ngoc (Kim) Nguyen said. “I can still use mobile data, but it’s less stable, and it makes me uncomfortable.”
Several international students were concerned about not having a vehicle or form of transportation to get somewhere to complete their work; however, others were able to connect to the campus Wi-Fi.
“I did not have any difficulties and did not have to leave the campus,” first-year general business major Zeynep Ege said. “I joined the school’s new Wi-Fi network, which solved my problems.”
When students didn’t have access to leaving campus to find internet, they found ways to occupy themselves on campus.
“I took time to meditate or read some books,” first-year general business major Elliot Hoffmann said. “It gave me time to think about me.”
