Technically Speaking

Every summer-when the news runs as slowly as the 2/3 train on weekends-the media latch onto some technology issue and run it into the ground. Past victims have included Podcasts, political blogs, and anything done by Google or Apple.

With the possible exception of YouTube, this year's media darling was Wikipedia, covered by The New Yorker, Stephen Colbert, and Wired (which posted its article in wiki format online for user editing).

For those who have lived in a bunker for the last year, wikis-as exemplified by Wikipedia-are Web sites that can be changed easily by a broad user audience with little or no knowledge of programming languages. While not perfectly regulated, most wikis have moderators-formally or not-who troll the site for instances of abuse and misinformation.

The result often bears a stunning degree of accuracy. A study by the science journal Nature found Wikipedia nearly as accurate as Encyclopedia Britannica. And for summaries on niche issues and emerging interests, Wikipedia is often the best available source of information.

Recently, Columbia has begun to embrace the academic aspects of wikis. The Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning has designed a number of wikis to facilitate conversation in classes, and members of the center are among the leading minds on wiki culture.

And yet meddlers, not just altruistic do-gooders, can also update the sites at will. So, while the vast majority of Wikipedia's information is correct and suitable for academic purposes, many students use it as much for procrastination as a tool to actually research for a paper.

But what if a wiki could serve both purposes? Project Athena, a wiki in development through Columbia's Student Government Office, is pursuing that goal. In its most basic form, it would begin as a brochure on which to find photocopiers and food, and then evolve into an insider's guide to which bathroom showers have the head installed too low (Wien 4). Depending on the amount of interference by the office, the site could eventually turn into a campus-wide study guide where users post their class notes, creating a massive Cliff's Notes. (Those involved with the project are calling it a repository for general information on the University, not on classes.)

Michelle Diamond, CC '08 and vice president of the junior class, said that any plans to pre-approve every post have been shunned and that overrides are reserved primarily for inaccurate data.

"Since it's so student-based and student opinion, we don't want it to be restrictive because that will make it slower," Diamond said. "We don't want people feeling like we have to edit it. We want as much information circulating as possible, but our foremost concern is that information is accurate."

The councils appear devoted to ensuring that Athena embraces the disparate voices of Columbia. But if it doesn't, or if the delays run too long, students may take it upon themselves to create their own solution. As has been shown by the abundance of private Wi-Fi networks, when the institution doesn't provide a means, students will just come up with their own ways to communicate-and procrastinate.

Josh Hirschland is a Columbia College junior majoring in urban studies. Technically Speaking runs alternate Wednesdays. News@columbiaspectator.com">News@columbiaspectator.com.