[laughinghan]

I think they mean out of ethernet-cables-that-are-usable-to-get-network-access. So there's loose cables aplenty, but a shortage of cables that work in the sense of the far end being plugged in, due to a shortage of ports.

From the perspective of a student walking into the room with their laptop, that's a shortage of cable-ends that they can plug into their laptop to gain network access.

[randogogogo]

Either way, I'm surprised port security isn't enabled in an educational environment like this.

[tomjen3]

Why should it be, or even be detectable if OP attaches a switch? Afaik, those don't even have different MACs and even if they do, it is unlikely that the university has all the students laptops MACs.

[andykx]

Switches have MAC addresses.

[leetrout]

It probably is and they just don't know or the policy is lax enough to allow it but triggers an alarm in OIT.