Sounds like you’re using the common setup, CAT5 twisted pair, with RJ-45 connectors. This is what you get if you go down to Radio Shack or CompUSA and ask for an regular Ethernet cable. Same stuff I was describing used by the hotels. I just used a different terminology than your CS department. Here’s a link that shows a hub and standard cables. I’m guessing this is what you have:
Based on your description above, you’re using the common kind of cables, which have RJ-45 type plugs on the ends. But USB is a kind of small, rectangular connector. They are becoming more common for mice, keyboards, printers, scanners, etc. They are cool because more than one component can share the USB line going back to your computer. Here is a link that shows them:
Nothing wrong with that! I tell people to do it all the time. Given the pretty good standardization among PC peripherals these days, it works pretty well.
Ugly