E-mail network to connect student leaders

Student leaders will soon be able to communicate with other student leaders at the touch of a button. Since the beginning of this semester, Undergraduate Assembly members and Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta have been working to develop LeaderNet, an e-mail discussion network for student leaders under the School of Arts and Sciences e-mail system. In a reception held in the Houston Hall Bowl Room yesterday for student leaders, the UA told other student leaders about LeaderNet and handed out applications for e-mail accounts. Meanwhile, College students must wait about two weeks to apply for the 2,500 free e-mail accounts which the University is offering this semester. UA Vice Chairperson and College junior Kirsten Bartok, who helped create LeaderNet, said she believes it will take time for students to adjust to this new communication system. "I think the change won't exactly be immediate," Bartok said. "Once they do learn, it'll be so easy they'll never turn back." UA Engineering representative Garth Fenney said he thinks that most leaders will be able to log on to LeaderNet within the next few days. "I'm excited to see the student leaders communicating with each other," said Fenney. "It'll definitely make relations between student leaders much easier." Some students said they resent the preferential treatment given to student leaders in acquiring e-mail accounts, while others said they feel the leaders deserve the early accounts. "Even though the UA has some specific purposes for [e-mail], the whole university should have access to it at the same time," said College sophomore Hung Dam. "I don't see a great need for it myself," said College freshman Christiane Derby, "But the larger organizations need the [e-mail] system more than an individual."