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Capitalizing on the growing popularity of online social networking, UCLA Student Media has made an addition to bruinwalk.com to help students connect with fellow Bruins.

In the new service, students create a profile containing a variety of information, including their interests, attitudes towards such topics as politics and religion, and personal attributes such as gender and physical build. They can also include a personal photograph.

The idea of launching a networking tool was conceived by Student Media in fall 2001. Arvli Ward, director of Student Media, said when they initially tried to explain their idea, it was hard for people to imagine exactly what they wanted to do, because nothing of its kind had been tried before.

“That says a lot about the Student Media students. It says a lot about the campus and the department,” Ward said of the organization’s innovation.

The networking tool, originally referred to as Profiles, was created in anticipation of a student demand for such a service.

Despite a “soft launch” without lots of publicity, students have already begun to respond in a positive manner.

“I don’t know if I would use (the networking tool), but I suppose that I could, seeing as how I’m an internet junkie. We will probably all end up conforming, especially if we’re bored,” said Jane Kim, a first-year molecular, cellular and developmental biology student.

Other students were not as enthusiastic about the new site.

“I don’t like it, because it gives people a lot of personal information. It seems like a dating thing,” said Blake Haas, a second-year physiological science student.

Though other social networking sites are already in existence, such as thefacebook.com and friendster.com, Ward said it is not uncommon for students to belong to more than one network.

“We are focusing on making the networking tool as viable as possible,” Ward said.

As more students join the network, Ward hopes that more additions will be made to the site, such as making it a part of a broader network amongst colleges.

Student Media has already made an agreement with New York University to help create a social networking site of its own. Ward says that the UCLA network may expand to include the future NYU network, and is optimistic that other colleges may join as well.

“Many may license with us to join the network,” Ward said.

In addition to making Bruinwalk a part of a broader network, Ward plans to link other activities, clubs, groups and other aspects of campus life to help students communicate on a broader scale.

Bruinwalk.com currently has 5,000 users who rely on the site for information on a daily basis. This number does not include all the users who only use the site for the professor reviews.

Ward said all the current features will remain the same, but the site will evolve and expand over time. He said the organization is looking for entities either on or off campus that can bring significant content or features to Bruinwalk.

“We hope that when you get bored you’ll use (the networking tool) and that the useful sources will be helpful when you need them,” said Ward.