New portal problematic

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
Collegian Editor
August 28, 2008

Mary Ellen Huss was afraid this would happen.

“I called them this summer and they said it would be ready for the school year,” the senior communication major said.

“I was really optimistic that it would work [when I came back], but I noticed it again when I e-mailed my co-coordinators for Project Appalachia and they still haven’t gotten back to me yet.”

Huss is talking about the dilemmas many have encountered with the university e-mail since students moved back to campus last weekend.

Many have complained about problems with sending and/or receiving e-mails. Often when individuals do receive the message, it is days later.

Information Technology officials stated that the problem occurred within the hosting system, Lotus Notes. A bug prevented access to the e-mail from the myLasalle portal, official Steve Fabiani said.

Currently, the university is undergoing a transition from Lotus Notes to Microsoft.

“[Lotus Notes] is limited in terms of the amount of space we can give students for e-mail and difficult to make work with mobile devices,” he said.

The new program, Microsoft Live@EDU can accomplish both tasks, he said.

“[Live@EDU] is brand new and still not ready for prime time,” Fabiani said. “[Director of Information Technology] Ed Nickerson’s feeling is that it’s better to keep everyone on our current system … and I strongly agree with that.”

Fabiani also stated that the portal was redesigned in order to provide a “more logical and clean ‘look and feel’ for users.”

Although the bug was eradicated, Huss and others still expressed concern.

“E-mail is how we contact people. Not everyone checks Facebook or [receives] texts,” she said.

Huss fears that students interested in the service trip Project Appalachia won’t be able to e-mail coordinators questions, or worse, not submit applications in time.

Since coming to La Salle, Huss has almost entirely switched over to the school’s e-mail system because of the La Salle Address Book. In addition, many teachers and university employees will only read La Salle e-mail.

Philosophy department chair Marc Moreau was unaffected by the difficulties, though. Moreau accesses his La Salle e-mail directly without accessing the portal.

“I have to say that here’s one guy who hasn’t had a problem,” he said. “Maybe I’m the only one, but it’s working for me.”

RSA President and POINT member Mary Elizabeth Sullivan was affected, but she did eventually receive her e-mails.

“Today I got home and received like 70 new e-mails from important people on sensitive issues,” the communication major said.

Sullivan said she just received e-mails sent several days ago old from Dean of Students Joseph Cicala and Director, Community Standards and Support and RSA advisor Mark Badstubner.

“My life revolves around e-mail. The La Salle e-mail is a critical part of our organization,” she said.

Despite the inconvenience it may have caused her, Sullivan remained hopeful.

“I understand they are switching programs, but if they can get it done ASAP my life would be easier,” she said.

scavuzzos1@lasalle.edu