The Panther

Issue date: 9/15/05 Section: Campus

Media Credit: Brandon Garret Can you post something on my wall?: Prairie View students are now able to interact online through personal profiles and interest groups.

An online "addiction" is what facebook.com has become to many college students. Facebook.com is an online directory that is currently limited to college students.

Students may connect with peers from their school or other supported schools across the country.

Membership into this online directory is free, but requires a college email address.

The history behind Facebook.com is one of a college student searching to make his campus more "friendly." Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg wanted a way for all Harvard students to connect across the campus.

Apparently, the atmosphere on Harvard's campus was not as inviting socially as it was academically. Thus, on Feb. 4, 2004, Facebook.com emerged.

Initially, facebook was solely on the campus of Harvard University, now it has engulfed over 300 schools. During the summer of 2005, Prairie View A & M University was added to the list of supported schools on facebook.com.

Consequently, it has become a hit among Prairie View students.

Students create individual profiles which contain basic personal and contact information. Students design profiles that exhibit and enhance their personalities.

Best friends for life or future wives or husbands can meet on facebook. Students can make new friends or find old ones.

To become a friend on facebook, a friend request is sent to someone and with the person's confirmation, a new friendship arises or an old one is rekindled.

"I found my friend from high school on facebook. I hadn't seen her since my freshman year of high school," exclaims sophomore engineering major Shannon Wilson, when asked about the benefits of facebook.com.

Also, students can create groups, whose members share a common interest. Prairie View students have formed groups that range from particular majors to religious affiliations.

There are discussion boards for each group, where members can discuss various topics.

Therefore, students can use the interaction with other students, maybe in their particular major or similar situation, to gain knowledge and advice.

Recently, a high school version of Facebook.com has been launched. This version will not interfere with the college version. There will not be any interaction between the two.

However, now high school students have the opportunity to benefit from thefacebook.com as well.

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