Set Up Wifi To Get Wireless Internet?

I just moved off campus to an apartment, but the internet is still provided through the school. All I need to do to get internet is plug the ethernet cord from the port on the wall to my laptop. But I really need wireless internet. My wificard tells me there are tons of networks in the building I am in. I bought a netgear router and plugged the ethernet cord into it, but the router doesn't seem to detect the internet, even though if I plug that same cord into my laptop the internet works instantly.