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Residential Networking

Telephone & Voicemail

Introduction


Your residence hall room is equipped with a digital telephone that includes a connection to the campus voice messaging/voice mail system (South Hall residents should refer to the handout provided in your welcome packet).  Please read the instructions in this pamphlet carefully, as it provides important information about the capabilities of the telephone and voicemail systems.  In addition to the phone port, each room also has a second and possibly a third wall jack for Ethernet connections to the PLU network.

Voice Messaging/Voicemail


Voice messaging is essentially a full featured “answering machine.”  It is secured by a password (always required), accessible when you are away from campus (Dial 253-536-5000), and allows a high degree of flexibility in greeting and message handling.

Words of Caution


PLU has a digital telephone system, meaning that the phones are probably different from the traditional phones you may be used to.   The type of phone that has been provided to you is the only one that will operate in your room*.  Conversely, the phones at PLU will not work anywhere else.  In fact, plugging one of these digital phones into a standard analog jack could destroy the phone’s circuitry, which operates at a much lower voltage.  Because the phone is digital, devices such as answering machines and modems will not work from your room.  Instead, PLU provides voicemail and ethernet communications connectivity for each room.  Please observe the following guidelines with regard to PLU’s phone system:

·    Do not unplug the phone for any reason unless instructed by service personnel.  The system reads this as a “dead phone” and will block your extension and send an alarm to the technician who will then have to make a service call (chargeable to the student at current per hour rates) to reactivate the extension to normal status.
·    Do not attempt to repair, modify, open or otherwise tamper with the phone.  There aren’t any user serviceable parts on the phone.  Once damaged, the phone must be replaced in its entirety at a cost of approximately $200 each.
·    Voice messaging systems fall under the Telecommunications Act, which makes tampering with another person’s voice mail, or making prank and obscene calls illegal.  The university vigorously prosecutes these violations both criminally and via the conduct system.  Report all obscene and/or threatening phone calls to Campus Safety immediately (x7441).
·    Do not accept collect calls or bill third party calls to your extension number, or allow anyone else to do so from your extension.  The extension number you occupy will be charged and held responsible for any unauthorized calls made.  See the section “Long Distance Service” in the next section of this information pamphlet on making long-distance calls from PLU dorm room extensions.