IOW you might not be able to get into chat because the university computers are specifically blocking chats due to policy. In this case it is not a technical glitch, it is an intentional lockout.

It can't hurt to ask though. Maybe that port is blocked unintentionally and they will be willing to open it for you. Or maybe they will say that it is open and if so there might be something else going on. No harm in asking, just use DocJohn's example to get the right answer (assuming you ask someone who is knowledgable enough to give you the right answer )