Birth of a nation
JMU students create their version of Facebook
Posted on March 17, 2008
Imagine Facebook, take away the thousand applications and the unlimited access, add some Duke pride, and you’ve got JMUNation.org, the campus’ first exclusive social networking site.
Senior Aaron Graham created the site after he was approached by development representatives in the College of Business to increase networking efforts across campus.
“Since I own a Web-based software business I said, ‘Hey, why don’t I start a Facebook-like service just for JMU,” he said.
The site is only open to JMU students and requires e-mail verification. Once signed up, users are free to create a profile, add friends and send messages and instant messages. While most of these features are also provided by Facebook, JMU Nation does not allow users to create or download applications or any other type of Internet spam. As the site is aimed toward networking, users can upload educational and professional information and documents to their profiles.
“It seems to be laid out nicely and easy to navigate,” alumna Karen Hey (’03) said. “I think it is a great way for alumni and students to connect for career help. I am on MySpace. JMUNation.org is more professional in nature, in my opinion.”
Since the site’s launch last year, it has grown to encompass 227 members, completing 23 percent of its goal to have 1,000 people signed up by May of this year.
Still in its beginning phases, the site has garnered mixed reviews among users. While many enjoy the site, some think that there is room for improvement.
“I like that it is specifically geared toward connecting JMU students with each other,” said junior Kathryn Delli-Colli said. “It is a great networking tool for alumni to stay in touch or for current students to contact alumni.”
As the marketing class of 2009’s department representative, she says the site has helped her keep on top of her responsibilities.
“My role is to be a contact person between my current graduating class as well as into the future once we all graduate and go our separate ways with our careers. If alumni want to know what’s going on with the College of Business after they leave JMU or if they are interested in giving back in some way, they can contact me and I can help to put them in touch with the right people. I heard about JMU Nation at the department representative meetings and this is to serve as a tool to help us in our position as well.”
Junior Greg Groves, however, said that he does not use social networking sites for business purposes and does not see much of a benefit to JMU Nation.
“I like that the site is only JMU, but it just doesn’t have the same appeal to me as Facebook does,” he said. “I can use Facebook for the same things as JMU Nation so why burden myself with another site? Overall this site is off to a good start but has a long way to go if JMU students are going to use it regularly.”
Freshman Jennifer Steinhardt, who has been a member of JMU Nation since last fall, has had mixed reactions.
“Personally I can say that I like Facebook better,” she said. “However, I feel more secure on this Web site since it’s so specified to the university.”
