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Jamie M. Eubanks JSU News Bureau JACKSONVILLE -- June 22, 2001 -- Jacksonville State University�s new GEM is almost ready to shine. GEM stands for Gamecock E-Mail. Currently, students and faculty at JSU must use campus computers to check their e-mail. They couldn�t just sit in the comfort of their own home to do this. But now, JSU�s GEM will allow students and faculty the �flexibility of web-based e-mail, such as AOL or Yahoo,� says Neil Johnson, who is heading the e-mail conversion. Computer Services is �polishing� the GEM to make sure there aren�t any �bugs� in the system. �The new system should be in full swing by the end of this week,� says Johnson. �We�re just making sure all the "�issues are worked out.� These issues include the huge number of accounts that will be handled by the software. �There will likely be more than 8,000 e-mail accounts.� And there are several reasons for an increase in the number of accounts. Since students will be able to check their e-mail from any computer anywhere, it will make using the free system on campus much more convenient than buying a membership from some other provider. And many announcements that are sent to students reach them via e-mail. And those who prefer to use their account with AOL, Yahoo or another provider may set up a GEM account and forward all their e-mail to that account. Johnson and Randy Harper, director of Computer Services at JSU, are stressing another important aspect of GEM. �We want to stress the concept of changing your password,� says Harper. �The new system will allow you to change your password at any time--as long as you know your old password.� Each student is given a default password when their account is established. This password is the first eight digits of the student�s social security number. Both Harper and Johnson said that it is crucial that students change this password immediately. �It is easy for someone to find out your social security number,� says Johnson. �So to prevent someone from reading your e-mail, change the password. That almost eliminates the risk.� He also recommends, if you�re using a campus computer, that you logout and close the browser when you�re finished. �We have had an instance where someone was using a campus computer and they failed to close the browser. Someone came in behind them and read their e-mail from one of the other web-based servers,� comments Johnson. And while Computer Services has never had any problems with individuals hacking into other people�s e-mail, they have incorporated a Secure Connection (SSL) that students and faculty can use while changing their password. However, your connection is secure, but, as with any e-mail, the e-mail itself is not secure. �We are trying to work out any problems that may arise,� Johnson says. �But we are sure there will be some that we couldn�t possibly have anticipated.� Within the week, the GEM will soon be �polished� and ready to shine for students and faculty at JSU. |
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