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Editorial

Keeping Up With the Train of Technology

Throughout their years at Monmouth, there is one phrase that every student has said at least once: “I get so many emails!” However, with the new email system, upgraded from Squirrel Mail, students can hope that their email page will look so nice that they won’t mind getting blasted with tons of emails from the University every single day. We can also hope this could be the start of a positive technological infrastructure at the University.

Some students signed up to test the new email system, which visually appears very similar to Microsoft Outlook. If the test gains positive results, all students will retire from their time with Squirrel Mail and will have access to the new system, which offers a more modern appearance.

Squirrel Mail has been a frequent complaint with students, as has been other technological aspects of the University. The mail system appears outdated and juvenile, and it is time for an upgrade, especially at a distinguished school such as Monmouth University.

Graphics only appear as attachments in emails, making some messages that are meant to look classy and upbeat appear to be messy and unprofessional. When graphics are included as attachments rather than directly in an email, there is also more of a likelihood that they will be missed by the audience they are trying to reach. It is not likely that many busy students are going to bother downloading a separate attachment from an email that they do not necessarily need to see.

Also, the usernames of students appear as an impersonal set of numbers instead of an actual name, sometimes making it difficult to figure out who is sending an email in the first place. This forces students to remember a set of numbers or look up usernames from the Global Address Book instead of just knowing an address from the name of a person. It seemed to be only a matter of time before the University would be forced to switch to a sleeker and fresher form of email for their students and faculty.

Although the system can still go down from time to time, just as any other technology or network, the improvements made can build a better, more engaging online network, connecting students and elevating the status of the University.

Even though the new email system is in its very beginning stages, we realize there are still other ways the University can continue to improve campus technology.

Regarding campus computers, The Outlook is one of many offices affected by the technological processes. No longer able to install software updates or certain programs without ‘administrative rights,’ we have been set back in the newsroom without being able to use programs to creatively showcase our publication in print as well as online. After reaching out to the proper sources to fix such issues for months now, we have not received assistance – much of the same answer other offices and departments have received.

Many other students who are part of clubs and organizations often complain about their lack of administrative rights when it comes to implementing programs as well, since these students often need the updated versions of programs to get their jobs done quickly and efficiently.

Also, since the update to Windows 7 on most University computers, several are complaining more about the slowness of the PCs.

Moreover, students are constantly having problems with the wireless Internet connection at the University, which is obviously a major setback for students trying to get work done while on campus.

We do not know who is responsible for the technological fall-out; however, we have yet to hear of a date when some, if any, of these issues will be resolved.

Some believe that in today’s world, stuffed full of smart phones, Monmouth should make a compatible mobile version of webmail. Other students believe that the megabyte limit for attachments should be increased so that more graphics can be sent out to the campus community. Another thought is to implement Microsoft Outlook for student email, since this is the program that many businesses use. Using this program would prepare students for their professional lives after their time at the University.

The University is constantly updating itself when it comes to other areas such as new majors, new academic buildings, and more clubs and activities for students. But with the rapid rate of this technological innovation, Monmouth University will still fall behind if it can’t keep up with the train of technology.