New directory promises to connect students

By Hannah Sussman
Collegian Staff
April 26, 2006

Recently, La Salle University has developed a new student directory on the mylasalle portal. The directory is available for La Salle students, staff, and faculty only, and will display the student’s e-mail, campus residence, personal preferences and picture.

The photo displayed in the directory will be the same as the one on the student’s identification card, or can be a head shot of the student submitted via e-mail.

This fall, a booth will be set up in the Union for students to re-take their directory pictures.

Many large universities, such as UCLA, have similar directories that are open to the public. At those universities, anyone can search for a student, faculty or staff member, even if they are not affiliated with the university. On La Salle’s directory, however, alumni and/or prospective students do not have access.

Ed Nickerson, Director of Information Technology, said that the purpose of the new directory is “to help promote community more.”

The directory will be able to connect students with the same classes or similar interests. A common complaint among new students is that there is not much to do on campus during weekends. This directory could potentially connect people with common interests, cutting back on weekend boredom.

In addition to serving social purposes, the directory can connect faculty and staff to their students, and vice versa.

If a student does not wish for their information to be displayed on the directory, the student must fill out a form in the registrar’s office. Doing this in person is the only way a student can remove themselves from the directory.

Currently, there are about 5,800 students, faculty and staff listed in the directory. Feedback about this updated directory is welcome and encouraged by the IT staff.

sussmanh1@lasalle.edu