Your Turn Letters to the Editor

Christmas wish

It has been to my dismay to see that the new student e-mail system is still unreliable. I understand with new technology there are hurdles to overcome like system problems, and the biggest and the most frustrating thing, I imagine, is the human user. However, after trying to access my student e-mail from numerous different computers on the Monroe Park Campus, I have concluded that it is indeed a problem with the system.

There are times when the email system works, and true, the server is never “down” per se – that is, I am always able to log in to the system. In addition, for those of us who are Mac users, it is a nightmare to sync our e-mail with any sort of third-party system like Mozilla’s Thunderbird or Microsoft’s Entourage.

To me the most confounding thing is being given instructions about how to adjust my Internet Explorer browser (which neither I nor the VCU Library uses) to access my e-mail properly and having it work only sporadically.

VCU’s current e-mail policy states that e-mail “is considered an official method for communication at VCU because it delivers information in a convenient, timely, cost-effective and environmentally aware manner.

“This policy ensures that all students have access to this important form of communication. It ensures students can be reached through a standardized channel by faculty and other staff of the University as needed.”

I know of a number of people switching to other e-mail systems. I have tried to advise against this, as the VCU email system is the “official communication method of the university,” and many professors will not send e-mails to any other address. While I generally agree e-mail is “convenient” and “timely,” unfortunately I cannot say the same for this new system. If I had just one Christmas wish, it would be to ask for a simple working system for the beginning of next semester.

– Tavarris Spinks