Richard Heishman loves the ease of wireless computing.

“I’ve got all my information on here,” he said, gesturing to his trusty machine that he lugs to Kansas University, where he’s studying for licensing exams. “I can access all my documents if I need to.”

Though KU has expanded its wireless Internet zones in recent years, there are still pockets where KU students have to plug in.

But new student body president Jason Boots hopes to shrink the number of uncovered spots.

“We want to have every classroom and major student space wireless,” Boots said. “That is not the case now.”

KU has about 30 wireless zones. Zones include Allen Fieldhouse, Fraser Lawn, and Dyche and Eaton halls. There are zones in parts of Budig Hall, parts of Joseph R. Pearson Hall and other places.

The campus first went wireless in 2003, launching zones in the Kansas Union. The buildup since then has been driven by the needs of students and employees, said Allison Rose Lopez, public relations and marketing manager for KU Information Services. The startup investment up to now has been about $500,000.

Kansas University student body president Jason Boots, a fifth-year senior from Plano, Texas, majoring in mechanical engineering, takes a call in his Student Senate office recently at the Kansas Union. Boots is pushing for more wireless zones on campus.

Whether the campus expands its wireless coverage is up to computer users, Lopez said.

“We’re responding to what people say they want and need,” she said.

According to Boots, the university needs more wireless zones, in such areas as Blake and Twente halls.

KU’s student government has worked with departments in the past to set up wireless zones and to share some of the costs. Boots said a model used to bring wireless computing to engineering students last year could be replicated for other areas.

Expansion would benefit the students and KU, he said.

“It’s a marketing tool the university is not able to capitalize on that other universities are able to,” he said.

And indeed, some schools are touting their wireless offerings.

At least 90 percent of Kansas State University’s classrooms, teaching labs, library and seminar rooms are equipped for wireless computing. And the expansion continues.

“We believe that students want to be mobile,” said Elizabeth Unger, K-State’s vice provost for academic services and technology and dean of continuing education. “Our whole focus is how can we make the environment richer and get the students more excited about learning and actually learning more. We think we’re doing that.”

Lopez said different schools have different needs.

“I really don’t think it serves any university to engage in a technological arms race,” she said. “Education is the only goal.”

Will wireless coverage mean students will simply surf the Internet during class?

“Obviously the professor has the ultimate control of the classroom,” Boots said. “The issue is there, but so is the solution.”