Editorial:
How ‘Suite’ a deal is it for students?

Webmail became an irritating fact of life for students, faculty and administration last semester. At times, messages were lost and at other times the e-mail system did not work at all. Simply submitting assignments or communicating with professors became a task in itself.

At last, the days of old Webmail are numbered and traces of its past are scheduled to meet an undesirable fate barring any last-minute reprieve – deletion. In its place, the Office of Information Technologies (OIT) launched Collaboration Suite earlier this month, sending a message of change that is receiving mixed reactions.

It’s easy to react hastily: “It’s too complicated” or “I don’t like it.” Yet, these knee-jerk reactions are matters of preference that have nothing to do with how the system actually works. More than anything, the inevitable fear of change is fueling unnecessary negative emotion. Not too long ago the main entrance sign sparked criticism and once again time alleviated those uneasy feelings.

Sure, using Collaboration Suite takes a little getting used to before it feels comfortable. But how often have we received a gift without the slightest idea of how to use it? Buying an iPod or Xbox 360 is the simple part. Figuring out how to download songs on the device or actually play the video game is the next challenge.

On the same level, getting adjusted to the workings of the new e-mail system will take time. The best way to learn anything is through trial and error. Try using the different functions, preferences and options. On one screen, the user has not only the new e-mails with his or her messages directly below, but also a calendar of the month with the current day highlighted.

Most of all, Collaboration Suite meets the spam problem head-on. Anyone receiving spam can drop it in the junk folder, automatically making OIT aware of the issue. Still, if problems persist, students can call the OIT Help Desk at x. 3000.

Aside from some of the initial kinks, most would agree the change was a necessity. But, the new ‘Suite’ does strike one sour note. E-mails from the old Webmail were not transferred to the new accounts. Although there will be access to these old e-mails until March 9, it is up to the users to forward the messages to their new Rider e-mail. Understandably, this has upset students who have many important messages stored on the old e-mail account. Still, all is not lost. One option students have is to install Thunderbird, a free e-mail client where users can take the old Webmail messages and drag them into this new account. To download this service provided by Mozilla, visit www.mozilla.org. Upgrades will be made in the near future allowing students to forward Webmail messages to the new account.
Frankly, OIT should extend the deadline through to the end of the semester before removing the old Webmail system. Students should have more time to sort through the e-mails amassed and decide what is worth saving. It is hard enough trying to keep up with the daily flow of e-mails, let alone having to go back through old messages knowing that it is only a matter of weeks before the system is wiped out.

Be that as it may, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief. We have a reliable e-mail system allowing us to communicate and not worry if a message was ever sent or received.