Most people see the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a state educational institution. Many within that those people see it also as a business with investors, a structure, revenues...However, very few see it as a community. Indeed, just like any other community, it has the privilege of having an history. It is true that constituents in the University of Massachusetts Amherst stay for an average period of 4 to 10 years and leave. However, some constituents if not the University itself, have gone through events or moments that we should consider worth sharing with future constituents or just consider preserving for the sake of the community, business or educational institution, depending on how a person sees it.
I did not get this idea until I walked from the elevators to the computer common at the basement of the W.E.B duBois library. By the red Bricks columns, I saw a piece of a news paper article about the first UMass football team. I went on the web and I could not find it, even on the UMass web site. Then, I got this idea of digitizing documents such as that news paper article with the picture the the first UMass football team or the very first class to graduate from the University ( in1868=not sure), the picture is posted by the fine Arts Center, or the first female student to graduate with the class of 1905.
Furthermore, one of the advantages of new media is its accessibility and openness to an unlimited number of people. With this I am assuming that there are people out there who have pieces of UMass history and would be eager to share it. I want in this project to give the opportunity those Alumni, journalists, former professors who have videos, pictures, text documents...upload them or contact us in case they want to share it (However, the content must be validated first before it can be published) and possibly comment on it.
In fact my target group is to be between 17 year olds to 75year olds, who I consider to either be future members of the University of Massachusetts Amherst's community, current students or former members of the UMass community. For the structure, I want the page to be very simple (Google simple) but with a UMass Amherst maroon theme of color. There will be a long search inquiry box; few navigation buttons on top of the page or right below the search inquiry box (home, sports, physical plan,buildings, people, events...)
When it comes to the costs, I really do not know how much time, human resources, and above money will have to be invested for the realization of this digitization project. But in term of limitations, I just don't know how much of what is out there to digitize, how much access I will get to current UMass artifacts (archives) and if their digitization will be allowed.
May God help us!
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This sounds like a project for which the research and the means of collecting data might be just as interesting as the final project itself.
ReplyDeleteI have always been struck by the way UMass seems inclined to erase its past. Any historical buildings seem to have a way of being destroyed in the name of progress. I think you idea has great merit.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the spelling mistake. I sent it before I wanted to. I wanted to say that I think your idea has great merit.
ReplyDeleteAs a former undergraduate, I heartily agree that the four years you spend at these institutions are much more than simple professional formation. There is very much a sense of community and shared experience that accompanies one's time at the university/college. I believe that it is a worthwhile goal and, by allowing people the opportunity to preserve that past, would provide a valuable service.
ReplyDeleteI would be curious to discuss how you would control content. How would you ensure that materials submitted are appropriate and what happens when certain memories conflict with other communities on campus?
I think this is a great idea. It could be useful resource for prospective students also. If they were to see such an online resource and see the history of the University it would add to the prestige factor. How much of a background story would be provided on items such as pictures?
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