Student Association spins a Web presence
New S.A. Web site set to launch next week

Tyler Machado | staff writer
kmachado@smcvt.edu

E-mails from the St. Michael’s College Student Association (S.A.) might become a thing of the past very soon. The S.A. will be launching its official Web site next week.

Creating a Web presence

All computer labs at St. Michael’s College have internet connections. Larry Frisoli, photo

The S.A. Web site will include a calendar of events, executive board information, campus news, and the S.A. constitution, S.A. President Alex Monahan says.

The site will also include a weekly poll question, says David Hiltz, S.A. secretary of communications and Web site master.  He says that the poll will ask students what they think of liberal studies requirements, how they liked recent S.A. events, and what artist they'd like to see for the spring concert, as examples.

“We'll update that [the poll] fairly often,” Hiltz says.

The Web site will include a section where clubs can download forms and print them out.  Monahan says that the ability to submit forms digitally is a long-term goal.

“I'd love to see it as the students' home page,” Monahan says.  “So that way, they're staying informed of what's going on on campus, because it won't just be information from the S.A., but there will also be news from other things around campus.”

The site will contain a listing of student clubs, much like the one that currently exists on the St. Michael's Web site, but Monahan hopes that every club will set up a Web site of its own.

“Theirs don't have to be as extensive as our main one is, it can just be something simple,” Monahan says.

To get every club to start a Web site, Hiltz says it will take a while. 

Built to last

The site is being designed by Brandon Bendall, senior Billy Borrelli's half-brother.  Originally Monahan looked at local Web design firms, but those charged $3-5,000 for a Web site.

“There's no way we're gonna pay that, so this is gonna be much, much cheaper,” Monahan says.
“We wanted it to be something that would last. It looks really professional.”

A professionally designed site will also be easier to maintain and will be more likely to catch on, so that it will be able to continue in future years, Monahan says.

This is not the first time the S.A. has had a Web site.  Two years ago, former S.A. president Tyrone Walker started a Web site, but it fizzled out before last year began.

“We're just finalizing our side of things now. [Bendall's] got the structure of it all set up,” Monahan says.  “We're just getting pictures on there, getting our information on there."

Clubs connecting

Common Ground already has a Web site in the works, says Dan Borkowski, the groups secretary of communications. Common Ground's predecessor club, Ally, had a Web site, but it was not updated often, according to Borkowski.

“There are other great organizations in the area for anyone who has an interest in anti-hate issues,” Borkowski says.  He hopes to include links and information on local groups, such as Outright Vermont, on the new Web site.


First-year Rachel Strashnick says that she thinks a new club directory with distinct club Web sites will get her and other students more involved.

“I went on [the existing club directory] once, but I didn't know what a lot of the clubs were,” Strashnick says.
She would visit the site for events listings and to vote in polls.  She says that she would like to see a way for students to present issues to the S.A. via the Web site, in lieu of going to the meetings, she adds.

“I know a lot of people who want changes, but they don't feel like going anywhere,” Strashnick says.

Borkowski says the biggest plus the Web site will have is increasing communication between clubs.

“There is the possibility of getting more people involved, but it will also help with inter-organizational relations among all the clubs,” Borkowski says.  “I'd say that's the main benefit, with anything else being secondary.”