ISU students are divided about a recently passed Inter-Residence Hall Association bill, which will change the way residents pay for ethernet access in the dorms.

A charge of $54 per two semesters will be added to all residence hall students’ room and board fees for automatic hook-up of ethernet in every room, starting next year and pending Department of Residence approval.

Currently, students who want an ethernet connection choose to pay a $40 installation fee along with a $7 fee per month.

ISU Director of Telecommunications John Kingland said this new system will be easier on residents.

“This will benefit students so they won’t have to go through the sign-up process,” Kingland said. “There will be no lag time in getting their ethernet hooked up, and the technicians won’t have to go out and hook up computers around campus.”

Some ISU students also believe that the bill will effect positive change.

“I think it’s a good thing. It’s cheaper — you get it out of the way by paying it once, and it’ll allow two computers in a room without paying extra,” said Geoff Perry, freshman in civil engineering.

Lindsay Case, freshman in industrial engineering, thinks it will save students money.

“It’s good because it’s just like cable [in the dorms]. There’s more people that have computers, and the percentage of computer owners will increase,” Case said. “Plus, people moving to different rooms won’t have to pay the extra money to get their ethernet reinstalled.”

Pat Hobart, junior in computer engineering, said the bill is fair because even people without computers in the residence halls still use them.

“For the people who have computers, it will be cheaper, and the people without computers use friends’ computers anyway,” Hobart said.

Chrissy Verzalik, freshman in business, also said she likes the bill because she won’t receive a monthly charge for ethernet.

“I think it’s good for those with computers. Then we don’t have to pay the $7 a month,” Verzalik said.

Krystal Tentinger, freshman in plant health and protection, is glad IRHA didn’t pass the bill last year.

“I’ll have a computer next year, so I think it’s good,” Tentinger said.

However, there are students who are not pleased with the vote.

“I think it’s stupid. I don’t have a computer, so I shouldn’t have to pay for it,” said Vicki Mattingly, freshman in animal science.

Dirk Mongreig, junior in pre-architecture, doesn’t own a computer, and he’s not in favor of the new charge.

“I don’t like it because I don’t use it,” he said.