Kopald '91 Raises Wi-Fi Concerns

In light of the Academy’s decision to equip campus buildings and dorms with Wi-Fi, a concerned alumna, Deborah Kopald ‘91, raised her concerns with Principal Tom Hassan about the safety risks for students, both before and after the installation began. After researching the issue further, Hassan and Exeter’s IT and Health Services chose to proceed with and stick by the tech transition.Kopald is currently writing a book on electropollution, caused by cell phones and towers and Wi-Fi, for instance. In addition, Kopald said that she has been speaking to college campuses and PTAs about the issue, in addition to 35 offices of Congress over the past year.Kopald first emailed Hassan on January 10, 2011, after she learned of the initial discussions about switching the campus to wireless internet.“I don’t think Wi-Fi is safe,” Kopald wrote. “Wi-Fi exposes people to more radiation than cell phone transmitters...Kids are more susceptible to the effects of microwave radiation than adults, because their skulls and immune systems are not fully developed until 18.”Kopald also cited various warnings against Wi-Fi from officials, including the German Office of Radiation Protection and the Swiss government advising caution.Hassan responded to Kopald’s email a few days later and said that he checked with various people at Exeter about the Academy’s plans and Kopald’s concerns.“We will move ahead on Wi-Fi, although at this point are plans are just in the conversation stage,” Hassan said. “But as we move ahead, we will certainly keep your grave reservations in mind.”On October 22, 2013, Kopald emailed Hassan again, once she heard of the installation progress.“I really wish you had taken me up on my offer to brief you before moving ahead with Wi-Fi in the classroom buildings,” Kopald wrote. “My ‘grave concerns’ were not based upon the Precautionary Principle, but on actual existing science and clinical data.”Kopald then stated that Exeter students would begin to grow sick from the exposure to the electromagnetic radiation. She also mentioned that exposure to wireless radiation, including WiFi, has been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a Class 2b Carcinogen, meaning that it is possibly carcinogenic to humans.

“There is a consequence to the failure to practice electromagnetic hygiene-- and I haven't pussyfooted around the fact that a reading of the literature makes it clear that beaming information across the room via pulsed, modulated microwaves (Wi-Fi) is not without consequence…” --Kopald '91

“It is not my intention to be rude or provocative for the mere sake of being provocative; I find it impossible not to comment,” Kopald said. “There is a consequence to the failure to practice electromagnetic hygiene-- and I haven't pussyfooted around the fact that a reading of the literature makes it clear that beaming information across the room via pulsed, modulated microwaves (Wi-Fi) is not without consequence…”“There is an opportunity to do something about the problem now, (perhaps there was more of an opportunity in 2011, when we last communicated and before the Wi-Fi was actually rolled out), but unfortunately a reading of fairly recent history suggests that most but the more progressive institutions wait until the last possible moment to listen to the alarms--when their insurers finally tell them unequivocally that will jack up their rates unless they fix the problem.”Nevertheless, Hassan and IT and Health services remain firm that the Academy’s Wi-Fi does not present a health threat, although they did look into the issue.“The Academy did look into the health concerns around Wi-Fi that Ms Kopald raised before we installed it,” Hassan said.Diane Fandrich, the director of IT Services, elaborated on the research Exeter put into the health worries. According to Fandrich, a “team of individuals across the Academy discussed and considered the health concerns” and then consulted the WHO and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Fandrich quoted a statement from the WHO, that “there is no “there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak radio frequency signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.”“We will continue to monitor the epidemiologic data, and respond appropriately, if indicated,” Fandrich said. “Dr. [Myra] Citrin, the Academy’s Medical Director, and I both support this position with the recognition that the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff are of the utmost importance.”