If you have noticed slower computer speeds in the past few weeks there is at least one reason. That is the number of !everyone and !students emails clogging the webmail system.
Due to the influx of emails regarding Monon Bell tickets, the entire email system crashed last week.
"Essentially what happens when one person sends a !everyone email is that, that email is delivered to approximately 1250 email accounts on campus,ยด said Brad Weaver, Director of Information Technology Services. "That creates three performance issues with our webmail system. First, is the process of all the messages being delivered to all the accounts. Second, is that is takes everyone longer to check their mail which means there are more people on the system for a longer amount of time. And third, it takes people more time to delete or move the messages."
The Wabash system is somewhat unique. "Most colleges no longer have systems allowing their students and faculty to send an email to everyone with one email address," Director of New Media Howard Hewitt said.
So what other option do students and faculty members have other than sending a !everyone email when trying to sell, buy, retrieve, and/or report items? In June of 2005 Computer Services and Public Affairs took the burden of email accounts across campus by implementing a classified ad system within the Wabash College website.
The classifieds tool is intended to offer a centralized, web-based location for the exchange of goods, services and information for the benefit of the Wabash College Community. The system can be accessed off the Student and Faculty/Staff pages. Anyone in the Wabash community with a user name and password can use the classifieds.
Weaver and Hewitt are making an effort to urge faculty and staff to make appropriate use of the classifieds system to avoid further slowdowns.
Sexton is a Wabash College junior and English Major.