once i came back from xmasbreak , hooked my computer back up i have noticed that my mirc connections are slow as [censored] . download speeds are max .79k/s and im on edu. im used to speeds like 56k/s. is it possibly a virus? somebody help!!!!!!!!

I doubt it's a virus. Ask your system administrator for help is the best way to sort it. BTW, have you tried plugging the same machine in with normal dialup connection and compared it?