Perspective: Finding the deeper meaning in the campus-wide power failure

By Joel Blake
Menlo Oak Staff

All of Menlo College’s Internet servers were on standstill. In parts of the campus, a sense of panic started to spread.  Homework needed to be printed, emails sent, and none of it could be done.

Menlo College had lost its Internet connection. What were we to do?

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This episode of technological failure made us realize how dependent we have become on the Internet, wireless connections and technology.

In hindsight, the Menlo community should have been better prepared.

On Feb. 10, Menlo’s IT Department released a campus-wide email; notifying students of AT&T’s plan to conduct emergency maintenance on one of the main routers providing Internet service in the Bay Area. Raechelle Clemmons, Menlo's chief information officer, stated in the  press release:

“The campus may experience intermittent Internet service during AT&T’s maintenance window. All Menlo services will continue to be up and available during this time period, including the public website, email, Moodle, and MyMenlo. However, access to these services may be disrupted as a result of the router maintenance. If Internet service is disrupted, on-campus users will not be able to access services outside of the campus network (Web browsing, email, etc.), and off-campus users will not be able to access services within the campus network (virtual desktops, MyMenlo, etc.).”

Then Feb. 13 arrived.  It was 11:19 a.m.  Menlo’s IT Department sent another campus-wide email. This one acknowledged the unexpected severity of AT&T’s warning.  Parts of the campus lost electrical power. Internet access was spotty, if available at all.

The impact was widespread. For example, Bowman Library lost all of its electrical power.
Many students, who failed to read their emails, overlooked the press release and the Internet outage came as a surprise. Many classes were impacted by the loss of Internet, including our very own Menlo Oak news writing. Professor Pamela Moreland was forced to cancel our lecture due to the inability to access the material.

The idea of the system failing sank into all of our minds. In a world of technological advancements and dependencies, is this what happens when the rug is pulled out from beneath us?

Internet and technology have become our foundation, the very ground we walk on. Last Monday we were reminded that without solid grounding, no progress can be made.  For the first time, many of us grappled with the question, “Should we trust our technology?”

Instead of questioning technology, maybe we should be asking if Menlo should seek more independent, reliable, and alternative energy sources? If so, where should we look?

I think we look no farther than the sky. Solar power! At least with solar we could lower our energy costs and if campus electrical power is disrupted, we can look to the weather for a clear explanation.