Capitalizing on the growing popularity of online social
networking, UCLA Student Media has made an addition to
bruinwalk.com to help students connect with fellow Bruins.
In the new service, students create a profile containing a
variety of information, including their interests, attitudes
towards such topics as politics and religion, and personal
attributes such as gender and physical build. They can also include
a personal photograph.
The idea of launching a networking tool was conceived by Student
Media in fall 2001. Arvli Ward, director of Student Media, said
when they initially tried to explain their idea, it was hard for
people to imagine exactly what they wanted to do, because nothing
of its kind had been tried before.
“That says a lot about the Student Media students. It says
a lot about the campus and the department,” Ward said of the
organization’s innovation.
The networking tool, originally referred to as Profiles, was
created in anticipation of a student demand for such a service.
Despite a “soft launch” without lots of publicity,
students have already begun to respond in a positive manner.
“I don’t know if I would use (the networking tool),
but I suppose that I could, seeing as how I’m an internet
junkie. We will probably all end up conforming, especially if
we’re bored,” said Jane Kim, a first-year molecular,
cellular and developmental biology student.
Other students were not as enthusiastic about the new site.
“I don’t like it, because it gives people a lot of
personal information. It seems like a dating thing,” said
Blake Haas, a second-year physiological science student.
Though other social networking sites are already in existence,
such as thefacebook.com and friendster.com, Ward said it is not
uncommon for students to belong to more than one network.
“We are focusing on making the networking tool as viable
as possible,” Ward said.
As more students join the network, Ward hopes that more
additions will be made to the site, such as making it a part of a
broader network amongst colleges.
Student Media has already made an agreement with New York
University to help create a social networking site of its own. Ward
says that the UCLA network may expand to include the future NYU
network, and is optimistic that other colleges may join as
well.
“Many may license with us to join the network,” Ward
said.
In addition to making Bruinwalk a part of a broader network,
Ward plans to link other activities, clubs, groups and other
aspects of campus life to help students communicate on a broader
scale.
Bruinwalk.com currently has 5,000 users who rely on the site for
information on a daily basis. This number does not include all the
users who only use the site for the professor reviews.
Ward said all the current features will remain the same, but the
site will evolve and expand over time. He said the organization is
looking for entities either on or off campus that can bring
significant content or features to Bruinwalk.
“We hope that when you get bored you’ll use (the
networking tool) and that the useful sources will be helpful when
you need them,” said Ward.