(Ottawa Citizen - Charles Mandel - Feb 23, 2006) - Looking for a hot spot? You won’t find one at Lakehead University. University president Fred Gilbert said he’s unwilling to introduce wireless Internet access to the Thunder Bay, Ont., school until he’s certain no health risk exists from electric and magnetic fields (EMFs).

In a recent interview with the website itbusiness.ca, Gilbert said his decision was based on "scientific literature that indicates the potential for ‘some fairly significant’ health consequences." Gilbert could not be reached for comment on Thursday, but the university issued a statement saying its decision to not install wireless technology was made for "health and security reasons." Even while Lakehead rejects wireless Internet, the University of Windsor announced on Monday that it is one of the first Canadian schools to offer Internet access throughout its entire campus, both indoors and out.

Ed Drouillard, U of W’s manager of technical support, said after Gilbert made his comments, they contacted their supplier, Aruba Networks, over the safety of such networks. Drouillard was told several hospitals are putting in similar networks. "If they’re not concerned about it in a patient-type environment, then I don’t know if we need to be concerned about it,’’ Drouillard said. But Gilbert told itbusiness.ca that the issue was relevant to adolescents who have "fast-growing tissues, and most of our student body are late teenagers and still growing."
(full article)