[Chad]

MacInsiders 2008 - What do you want to see happen?

As summer is not too far away, most MSU clubs go on vacation and come back in September (Clubsfest!). However, MacInsiders will be working hard over the summer both in assisting prospective students with questions, writing more advice/tips articles, keeping news updated, working on new video series, and most importantly... revamping the website.

We will be having a meeting soon to discuss what can be done to the MacInsiders website over the summer for our re-launch in September. But before we do, we want to hear what you, the users, want to see happen here at MacInsiders.

It has been a year since MacInsiders first officially launched as an MSU club, and we've seen tremedous growth. With over 2,500 members now, we've become a force to reckon with and the postings on our website are now read by over 600 students every day. Being a popular resource for students to both learn about what's going on with student life at McMaster, as well as opportunities for student leadership, we have more support than ever to continue expanding on and improving our services.

This brings me to the question: what would you like to see happen at MacInsiders in 2008? Being a community run entirely by students, it is our members and regular readers that keep the us going. It is you that gives us the motivation and dedication to continue providing the high quality of content that you see every day.

We're looking for:

1. Feedback on existing services
   What do you like the most about the site, and what do you come here for most often? Our main features include: news, advice articles, event updates, discussion forums, marketplace, arcade, networking/profiles, photo galleries, and video series. Let us know what you like currently!
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2. Ideas for new features or improvements
   What do you think needs improvement? What should we focus on for the summer and the new school year? Are there any features you think MacInsiders is missing and would benefit from?
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3. What would you like us to write about?
   Articles are a big part of MacInsiders. We currently have over a hundred articles in our archives written by students ranging many topics from how to get involved, to what to bring to residence, to the best local restaurants and bars. You can check out our article directory from 2007 by clicking here, and go through our 2008 articles here. What articles do you want to see more of in 2008?
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4. Ways to get more students involved
   MacInsiders is a big undertaking and we're always looking for new students to help out. In Sept 2008 we'll be putting a new team together for the year, but we also want your advice on how we can promote ourselves in the new school year and not only get more members to enjoy what we have to offer and participate in our forums, but how you think we can better spread the word about student involvement on campus. Let us know!

>> CLICK HERE AND POST YOUR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS! <<

Congrats on winning the club of the year award guys!! MacInsiders rocks.

Feedback
- I love the news and events posted on the homepage, it's one of the best sources of news and you did a wonderful job covering the MSU election. Being an upper year student I found this most useful. I also found your articles insightful and very informative - especially the ones about living off campus.. they really helped!

New ideas
- I think getting involved on campus is a big thing that should be promoted a lot more and the clubs on campus do a great job, there should be a section to let clubs post their events and announcements? The calendar feature seems to be under utilized and maybe those events can go in a box on the homepage so people see upcoming club events easily

Articles
- I'd like to see more for upper year students, maybe on advice about thesis's or postgrad education. I'd love something like that

Involving students
- Have you guys thought about hanging a banner in the student center? It can get you a lot of attention

Keep up the great work!!!!!

I enjoy the news and events, I visit mainly just to see what's going on around campus as there's no other outlet to do so except The Sil which only comes out once a week. One thing I really enjoy is all the videos you guys have done especially the interviews with people on campus that I never heard of before but are really important. I recognize a lot more staff around campus now after seeing them in the videos.

I'd like to see more to do with events, something on the homepage showing events that are happening during the next few days and let students post in there because there are a lot of events that don't get covered but deserve to be promoted. Also make it easier for members to write articles and tips because right now it isn't easy to find out how to do that and I know people who'd like to write things once in a while but not regularly

macinsiders 4 life!

being a longtime user of MacInsiders i'd like to first congratulate you on the award you received as well as thank you for all your hard work! This site has so much to offer and is updated so often I dont know how you do it but keep it up.

When I was in first year I found the forums to be the most helpful ever. I had so many questions and having answers from members here have been priceless and very valuable. No where else offers the type of community and help like you guys and for that I commend you.

Originally Posted by sarahsweet

Congrats on winning the club of the year award guys!! MacInsiders rocks.

Feedback
- I love the news and events posted on the homepage, it's one of the best sources of news and you did a wonderful job covering the MSU election. Being an upper year student I found this most useful. I also found your articles insightful and very informative - especially the ones about living off campus.. they really helped!

New ideas
- I think getting involved on campus is a big thing that should be promoted a lot more and the clubs on campus do a great job, there should be a section to let clubs post their events and announcements? The calendar feature seems to be under utilized and maybe those events can go in a box on the homepage so people see upcoming club events easily

Articles
- I'd like to see more for upper year students, maybe on advice about thesis's or postgrad education. I'd love something like that

Involving students
- Have you guys thought about hanging a banner in the student center? It can get you a lot of attention

Keep up the great work!!!!!

Sarah, I've been planning on writing a grad school article for some time now. Unfortunately because I haven't applied myself I have information on the process, but only up until a certain point. Aaand having just completed my fourth year thesis, I will be writing about that once I finish my exams/get myself organized for the summer..

the MSU elections was a huge thing on macinsiders. thanks for all your coverage guys!! maybe make a section for the SRA on macinsiders?

wrangler, some of the new SRA members have already said they wanted to use us as a means to inform the student body of what is going on. You can check out the thread here: http://www.macinsiders.com/showthread.php?t=1800 6

As for the rest of the BOD, it would be ideal to get them contributing to the site regularily, but we haven't approached any of them about that yet.

Theres a lot of stuff on here that for new people it could be a bit overwhelming, making reorganizing to cut things down a bit so its easier to navigate?

sense of community here is really strong, I like how it is right now. Hope more people will join in september. Keep it up!

More tips and advice!!!!!!! Really enjoy reading all that sorta stuff

Id like there to be an area showing a huge list of services and areas you can volunteer on campus other than clubs

Thanks for all your ideas so far guys!

Hi laura.m,
Check out the MSU website under jobs and volunteer; http://www.msu.mcmaster.ca/mirror/jobsvol.php
There's a list of volunteering opportunities there.

In my experience finding an opportunity to volunteer is just a case of figuring out what you would like to do and then offering your help.

Best of luck,

Originally Posted by williamhend

Theres a lot of stuff on here that for new people it could be a bit overwhelming, making reorganizing to cut things down a bit so its easier to navigate?

Agreed.... I think the ONLY problem with this site is that it can be overwhelming. It gets a little cluttered and is hard to navigate.

But otherwise everything else is superb! The info, the updates, the community! MacInsiders ROCKS!

Thanks Ron!

I hope to do some summer cleaning soon and collapse a few sections into 3-4 main headings to make navigation easier.

Any suggestions on a new navigational structure?

Compass?

They point you in the right direction...