TWU email switches to new server
No more agape accounts
October 1, 2007
Linette Schut
Over the summer, Trinity Western University implemented a technological change that had been in the works for almost a year. Now all TWU students have an email address that ends in @mytwu.ca, replacing the former @agape.twu.ca accounts.
Stephen Morris, the Executive Director of Information Technology, said that the change was put into practice solely to improve student service.
According to Morris, the biggest benefit of switching from the former Outlook Express server to Windows Live Mail, is that “it gives students far larger mailboxes.” The new inboxes can hold up to 2GB, as opposed to the 15MB that the @agape.twu.ca accounts could hold. This means the new accounts can hold 133 times more email.
Third year student Michelle Jonker points out another benefit of the new email accounts. “I really like it, because I can delete multiple emails at a time,” she said. She added that this email service is just easier to use in general.
These email accounts are also able to be used for life. Whereas the former emails were discontinued when a student graduated or left TWU, these emails can be used as long as the individual chooses. This means that it is easier for TWU alumni to keep in touch with fellow students and the university after they have graduated.
Students must change over to the new email service by Jan. 10, 2008. Once students switch their account, they will continue to have access to their @agape.twu.ca account, but all new email will be automatically forwarded to their new account.
Some students have expressed concern that these new accounts are now subject to the US Patriot Act, allowing the US government to screen emails for terrorist content. In response to this concern, Morris said that there is a warning about this on the website where students sign up for the account. He does not see this as a valid concern for TWU students.
Another disadvantage of the new email service is that the Outlook global address book can no longer be used to quickly find emails for all students and staff at TWU. These emails can still be found through the search option in the Student Portal at students.twu.ca.
As of print date, nearly 3 000 people have signed up for new accounts, with more joining each day.
Now you go...
2 Responses to “TWU email switches to new server”
Got something to say?
“where’s the ‘love’?”
I couldn’t resist
Is no one else concerned that the CIA - albeit ineffective, expensive and, well, useless - can read our precious emails at their will? Why in Canada (the land of the actually free) are we subject to this? I mean dang…I don’t need them reading about my POLS 310 class cancellation. That’s my business ‘Dubya.
But hey…thanks for the “warning” when we signed up for the account. Now I can send all my terrorist related e-mails through a different e-mail address.
I think if a terrorist went about planning an attack through Windows Live Mail, the sheer hypocrisy of his actions would eventually ring a bell in his head. “Hey Osama…doesn’t Windows represent everything we hate about the West?” “Oh right. Well how about we just set up a meeting instead?”
But on the plus side…if our school can get in tight with ‘Dubya and the gang, maybe the CIA will be able to tell us who’s been taking the toilet paper from McMillian and who’s breaking community standards in Fraser Lounge.