Volume 59, Issue 5  - September 18, 2006

Don’t block MySpace
By José Borjón
Collegian Editor

José Borjón

The MySpace.com frenzy continues.

After getting out of class at 7 p.m. Tuesday, I made my way to the Arnulfo L. Oliveira Memorial Library to get on a computer and do some homework on Blackboard. When I got to the library, most of the computers on the first floor were occupied by people who were on MySpace.com, checking their messages and interacting with their friends.

I don’t have anything against MySpace.com or the people that use the “social network,” but it seems that more and more students are getting on it, leaving students who want to do homework without a computer.

For the last few days, UTB/TSC has been monitoring the bandwidth being used by MySpace.com and other popular Web sites. Students pay a computer use fee, which in turn provides them with computers to use and Internet services to access. Without the fees, the university would not be able to pay for all of these services.

Administrators have told The Collegian that if access to MySpace.com exceeds the university’s bandwidth, it more than likely will block the “social network” permanently.

I disagree with university officials if they decide to go that route.

Even though I don’t have a MySpace.com account and am not planning to get one anytime soon, I stand on the side of students, because I believe they have a right to access any Web site.

I know that many students don’t have Internet service at home; some don’t even own a computer. The computers available to them on campus are their only means of interaction with friends from throughout the world.

MySpace.com might not be the best Web site out there, and as everything else in life it can be used for both good and bad. It is up to students to make the right choices and use MySpace.com as a “social network.”

Who is the university to dictate whether students should be on MySpace.com? Nobody.

For the most part, most students on campus are adults and old enough to make the right choices; it is up to them to decide how they use the Web site.

I ask the UTB/TSC administration to reconsider blocking MySpace.com permanently.

Where’s the food?

Last semester I sneaked out of my night classes to buy snacks sold by various clubs in the Cardenas Endowment Courtyard. This year, I continue to sneak out of class but haven’t seen clubs selling anything.

I encourage student organizations to sell food after 5 p.m. Many night students go directly from their full-time jobs to class, without time to buy food.

The clubs would benefit by making money and students would benefit by calming their hungry tummies.