Twitter has UWT tweeting
Many UWT orgs and departments hop on the Twitter bandwagon to get in touch with students.
Lana Alisdairi
Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: News
Many believe that Twitter is just another addition to the ever-expanding pantheon of digital nomenclature. Just take a look at the name itself. Twitter. It's trite and superficial.
"Twitterers" or "tweeters" send and receive short messages, called "tweets," on Twitter's Web site, with instant messaging software, or with mobile phones.
Beyond the site's dippy name, the idea that within the parameters of a mere 140 characters - set by what can fit in a text message on a phone- something remotely intelligent can be shared seems unlikely. It's tempting to be skeptical about the usefulness of a cacophony of short-burst communication.
The most frequently heard complaint about Twitter is a predicable one: "I don't need to know someone is eating a pizza right now." That's a legitimate grievance. Yet Twitter skeptics shouldn't be surprised to learn that the service has amazing potential to dish up a heaping plate of delicious information. The service is painting a clear, up-to-the-second picture of an increasingly connected, busy world.
A host of UW Tacoma departments and organizations have noticed just that. Yes, Twitter-mania is spreading across campus like the plague. UWTnews, UWTCIVITAS, uwt4me, the list of UWT-related Twitter accounts is lengthy. So far Twitter's proven to be a great thing.
Last Spring, UW Tacoma admissions advisers Curtis Black and Melody Ferguson joined the Twitter bandwagon. They see the site as an opportunity to add another level to how they recruit the next class of UW Tacoma students.
"We thought it would be a good place for people to look for information," Black said. "Plus, it's free, and anything free is always encouraged."
A central goal of admissions advisers is to get prospective students to visit the campus and, ultimately, to fill out admissions applications. Creating awareness is a crucial step in this process.
Black set up two Twitter accounts for UW Tacoma, one for interested freshmen and another for potential transfer students. Twitter has proven to be more popular among the older, transfer students. Black noticed that not many young people are using the service yet.
"Twitterers" or "tweeters" send and receive short messages, called "tweets," on Twitter's Web site, with instant messaging software, or with mobile phones.
Beyond the site's dippy name, the idea that within the parameters of a mere 140 characters - set by what can fit in a text message on a phone- something remotely intelligent can be shared seems unlikely. It's tempting to be skeptical about the usefulness of a cacophony of short-burst communication.
The most frequently heard complaint about Twitter is a predicable one: "I don't need to know someone is eating a pizza right now." That's a legitimate grievance. Yet Twitter skeptics shouldn't be surprised to learn that the service has amazing potential to dish up a heaping plate of delicious information. The service is painting a clear, up-to-the-second picture of an increasingly connected, busy world.
A host of UW Tacoma departments and organizations have noticed just that. Yes, Twitter-mania is spreading across campus like the plague. UWTnews, UWTCIVITAS, uwt4me, the list of UWT-related Twitter accounts is lengthy. So far Twitter's proven to be a great thing.
Last Spring, UW Tacoma admissions advisers Curtis Black and Melody Ferguson joined the Twitter bandwagon. They see the site as an opportunity to add another level to how they recruit the next class of UW Tacoma students.
"We thought it would be a good place for people to look for information," Black said. "Plus, it's free, and anything free is always encouraged."
A central goal of admissions advisers is to get prospective students to visit the campus and, ultimately, to fill out admissions applications. Creating awareness is a crucial step in this process.
Black set up two Twitter accounts for UW Tacoma, one for interested freshmen and another for potential transfer students. Twitter has proven to be more popular among the older, transfer students. Black noticed that not many young people are using the service yet.
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