Wikipedia is well known throughout the world, and especially to college students. While many professors are cracking down on the use of Wikipedia as a legitimate research tool, the site's breadth of information and categories thereof is undeniable.
Wikipedia supplies "useful information" gathered and refined by numerous person around the globe. Those who use and contribute to the site respect its purpose and most make every effort to provide quality information. What is so unique is the site's contribution method from general users, but such a method allows a much wider array of information overall.
As an example, in this past midt-term election I used Wikipedia to resarch information about candidates that may have been somewhat obscure. But the forum and resource tool Wikipedia provided allowed for an unbiased reasearch of politicians and helped me to make an informed choice. There is a very clear form and structure to Wikipedia, removing distracting clutter for a clear and informative experience.
Encyclopædia Britannica offers much the same information as Wikipedia, and while it lacks at times in breadth of information and user contribution it is superior in its use of experts to provide researched material.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Monday, October 16, 2006
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The power of the blog
So why does SUEC need a blog? SUEC doesn't advocate, nor does it have to listen to students (but it should) so why does SUEC need to connect with students via a blog.
GM does it. GM Blogs (link to the right) are two blogs that demonstrate the power of corporate blogging. Corporations are in a psoition to not need to hear whateveryone is saying, nor do they need to connect with all their consumers - but will be better if they do. GM has used their blogs to directly respond to negative columns and get "their side" of the story out to the masses.
So why does SUEC need a blog? SUEC doesn't advocate, nor does it have to listen to students (but it should) so why does SUEC need to connect with students via a blog.
GM does it. GM Blogs (link to the right) are two blogs that demonstrate the power of corporate blogging. Corporations are in a psoition to not need to hear whateveryone is saying, nor do they need to connect with all their consumers - but will be better if they do. GM has used their blogs to directly respond to negative columns and get "their side" of the story out to the masses.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Is this blog actually going to help?
We sure hope so, but we aren't leaving it at a hope. This blog will be using Google Analytics to track our success of connecting with students on campus. This will allow us to know how much time we should spend blogging to connect with voters and what topics we should focus on more.
Thus far, we haven't heavily promoted the BU Votes campaign or this blog and yet you can see the results already:
This is just an example of the detailed data BU Votes can use to gauge where we should be focused. We look forward to seeing these numbers jump as we are able to promote the voting campaign more heavily.
We sure hope so, but we aren't leaving it at a hope. This blog will be using Google Analytics to track our success of connecting with students on campus. This will allow us to know how much time we should spend blogging to connect with voters and what topics we should focus on more.
Thus far, we haven't heavily promoted the BU Votes campaign or this blog and yet you can see the results already:
| Date Range | Visits | Page Views |
| 10/4-10/10 | 89 | 1301 |
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
The campus is big, how do we connect?
Getting out the vote this year at Boston University is similar to the challenge any group planning a campus wide event faces - how do we connect with such a large campus?
Advertising through the GSU Link and Warren poster cases, even littering dorms with handouts don't always do the trick. Boston University is not the most personal place and that isn't any big secret. Most of us connect to parties and other events through friends: word of mouth. We trust our friends to tell us about anything they consider worth their time and ours.
Consider this: theyrule.net shows how executives and boards fo directors are connected. Taking two diverse companies, Aramark and American Express we can see how easily the two group are connected. Consider Aramark as West Campus and American Express as East Campus. Through only one jump they are connected even though they are seemingly so different.
BU Votes will not just be an advertising campaign, it will be a campaign among friends. The leaders on our campus are interconnected through multiple group and activity involvements, in much the same manner that executives and boards of directors are connected. The leaders of our campus can help extend the BU Votes campaign from East to West Campus and across to South.
Getting out the vote this year at Boston University is similar to the challenge any group planning a campus wide event faces - how do we connect with such a large campus?
Advertising through the GSU Link and Warren poster cases, even littering dorms with handouts don't always do the trick. Boston University is not the most personal place and that isn't any big secret. Most of us connect to parties and other events through friends: word of mouth. We trust our friends to tell us about anything they consider worth their time and ours.
Consider this: theyrule.net shows how executives and boards fo directors are connected. Taking two diverse companies, Aramark and American Express we can see how easily the two group are connected. Consider Aramark as West Campus and American Express as East Campus. Through only one jump they are connected even though they are seemingly so different.
BU Votes will not just be an advertising campaign, it will be a campaign among friends. The leaders on our campus are interconnected through multiple group and activity involvements, in much the same manner that executives and boards of directors are connected. The leaders of our campus can help extend the BU Votes campaign from East to West Campus and across to South.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Register to Vote!
Your Vote is Your Voice at Boston University and everywhere else.
Not happy with your city's ordinances? Frustrated by your federal government? Hoping a certain candidate will win or measure will pass in your state? Say it with your vote.
There is no more stronger voice in our government than registering to vote and exercising that right. It's your right to march and protest, and if you are unhappy, you should keep on going. But be sure you don't get swept up and forget to really say how you feel by voting.
To help, we've added two new links:Each have information about how to register & vote in either Massachusetts or your home state.
Your Vote is Your Voice at Boston University and everywhere else.
Not happy with your city's ordinances? Frustrated by your federal government? Hoping a certain candidate will win or measure will pass in your state? Say it with your vote.
There is no more stronger voice in our government than registering to vote and exercising that right. It's your right to march and protest, and if you are unhappy, you should keep on going. But be sure you don't get swept up and forget to really say how you feel by voting.
To help, we've added two new links:Each have information about how to register & vote in either Massachusetts or your home state.
Is this officially part of Boston University?
No, this blog is not yet officially part of Boston University. It will be part of a proposal to the new Student Union Elections Commission & Student Activities Office to help connect with students on campus.
Blogging & other Social Networks are the best ways to connect with the most students on campus. The days of promoting door to door have faded and the Elections Commission needs a better way to communicate with the students it serves.
Check back to see progress and whether the new SUEC will adopt the "bu votes" campaign.
Learn about last year's SUEC & Election
No, this blog is not yet officially part of Boston University. It will be part of a proposal to the new Student Union Elections Commission & Student Activities Office to help connect with students on campus.
Blogging & other Social Networks are the best ways to connect with the most students on campus. The days of promoting door to door have faded and the Elections Commission needs a better way to communicate with the students it serves.
Check back to see progress and whether the new SUEC will adopt the "bu votes" campaign.
Learn about last year's SUEC & Election
Friday, September 22, 2006
Creative Commons License
Curious what that black and grey logo is on the side? Give it a click. Creative Commons is a great way for you to understand and share rights and restrictions for online content.
This blog has chosen one of the more restrictive licenses because we want to ensure you know when you are on an official BU Votes website. We hope people will share the news about our campaign to increase voter participation here at Boston University, but we want you to know whether the information you are getting is from the source you can trust.
Our more restrictive license allows others to share our content un-modified and for non-commercial purposes only. This protects our lengthy hours put into the campaign and protects you from false information. More Information
Curious what that black and grey logo is on the side? Give it a click. Creative Commons is a great way for you to understand and share rights and restrictions for online content.
This blog has chosen one of the more restrictive licenses because we want to ensure you know when you are on an official BU Votes website. We hope people will share the news about our campaign to increase voter participation here at Boston University, but we want you to know whether the information you are getting is from the source you can trust.
Our more restrictive license allows others to share our content un-modified and for non-commercial purposes only. This protects our lengthy hours put into the campaign and protects you from false information. More Information
Ning Bookmark
The concept behind the BU Votes Campaign is to be unique and not blend into the background of Boston University or the web.
Just like no blogger wants to feel his or her blog is "just another blog" no voter wants to feel like his or her vote is just another vote that doesn't matter.
A bookmark will be added to Ning to help bloggers customize and even design their own blog, just as BU Votes has done. Remember to be as bold with your vote as you are with your blog.
The concept behind the BU Votes Campaign is to be unique and not blend into the background of Boston University or the web.
Just like no blogger wants to feel his or her blog is "just another blog" no voter wants to feel like his or her vote is just another vote that doesn't matter.
A bookmark will be added to Ning to help bloggers customize and even design their own blog, just as BU Votes has done. Remember to be as bold with your vote as you are with your blog.
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