SEMO loses Internet access temporarily because of cut line

Southeast Missouri State University staff and students were without Internet access much the day and into the night Thursday after a computer network system trunk line in the St. Louis area was accidently cut.

"It's annoying," said John Weber, assistant vice president of information technology at the Cape Girardeau school. "But that's part of technology."

The trunk line is part of the Missouri Research and Education Network, based in Columbia, Mo. The network provides Internet access to colleges, elementary and secondary schools, libraries and other institutions.

Megan Gill, communications manager for MOREnet, said the network cable was cut abut 10 a.m., shutting down Internet access to about 40 member institutions, including Southeast and the Cape Girardeau public schools.

But the lack of Internet access had little impact on the local school district because schools were closed for spring break.

Gill said the network line was expected to be back in service by late Thursday night.