<nettime> Mini big brother in institutions

[Andres Manniste <amanniste@rsight.net>]

Hi people,

I thought that you might enjoy this thread that demonstrates the 
infinite complexities that middle management exploit to control the 
internet from their dreary little offices. (mini big brother?)

Andres


Thread begins:

Hi Head of communications,

I am in the process of updating the Fine Arts Site. I have noticed that 
there is no link to the site from the corporate page. I find that the 
site that has been in existence since 1996, has interesting links that 
could be of use to prospective students. It is also flash and 
script-free so that it can be accessed by students from 
non-industrialized locations. Is it possible to provide direct links 
from the corporate page?( I believe the same holds true for other 
program and department pages, such as Photography)

Regards

Andres

Subject:
FW: Fine Arts Webpage
From:
Technician at monitor


Hi Andras,

Head of communications forwarded your email to me as I am the person you 
need to contact regarding your web pages.  Can you provide me with the 
link to the pages you are editing so I can better assist you.

Thank you,
Technician at monitor

Hi Technician at monitor

 From the Communications Department listing, I wasn't sure that it was 
you, the Webmaster or Head of communications that I should address. 
Sorry about that. Anyway, here is the link to the Fine Arts Page. We 
would appreciate a link from the corporate page.

Hi Andres,

No problem! I guess you don't already know, but the pages on c37 are no 
longer part of the site. We sent out several requests to have programs 
meet with us to add relevant content to the new site. So Andres, I would 
enjoy meeting with you to incorporate content from the dept site on the 
new site and show you how to edit your content on the new site. When are 
you available?

Thank you,
Technician at monitor

Hi Technician at monitor,

I guess we'll just leave it as it is for now. I'm curious, is it php 
template editing that the main site uses?

Regards

Andres

Hi Andres,

The main site is a proprietary CMS site using php.

Thank you,
Technician at monitor


Hello everyone,

 I am in the process of the bi-annual updating of the Fine Arts website.
The main Site uses a content management system which is database
dependent. You will notice that there are very few, if any outside links
from the corporate site. This, I imagine, is for security reasons. So we
do not have a link unless we are completely integrated into the CMS
site, which can have its own issues. For now, we will stay with static
html on c37 . You can ALWAYS find the fine arts site by typing " Fine 
Arts" in Google. We have been listed since 1996, so it will take
you there immediately.

The CSS site is designed to be navigated by users with our student's
age. It also now has a text version that can be accessed on cell phones
 or older browsers (both common in non-western countries). This is a work
 in progress so please tell me about broken links or additions (In the
 form of written content sent in a legible email. Remember, anything
dynamic, like a blog needs someone to keep up with it) If anyone wants
 links to their personal site, from the Faculty page, please send them to
me. If you wish to change your email status (posted or not or an address
 different from @college), please tell me.

All the work should be finished within a couple of weeks.

 Regards

 Andres


 Technician at monitor wrote:

 Hi Andres,

The pages on the C37 server will be shut down at the end of this
semester and exist there now only as a point of reference for
 transferring content to the new College website. Because your program
 involves a lot of imagery and you will want to display that on the
 web, we would like to offer you the continuance of your present site
within the guidelines of the communications office. To continue with
 these pages you will need to remove any information that is a
 duplication of the main College website pages, including the following
pages:

Curriculum

Entrance Requirements

Course descriptions


This requirement is part of our new policy to eliminate duplication or
 erroneous information that is confusing to visitors to the College
 site. Please email me when you have removed these items and I will put
 a link to your website from the main site.

Thank you,
Technician at monitor

Hi Technician at monitor

Thank you for looking into this. There is absolutely no problem with
 reducing the amount of pages (as you well know). So I'll get on to it,
it should be all done in a couple of weeks. I'll come by sometime to see
 how this can all work.

 Do the teacher's pages on C37 have continuance? I find that static HTML
is not as resource hungry and can be moved relatively easily so
 therefore easier to maintain for teaching (unless I can have access to
 DBs). This is important to know because it would be unfortunate to have
 to run course pages from an outside server.

Andres,

You will not have access to  databases. Also keep in mind that the way 
we run the web is evolving. Pages associated with the College website 
must conform to the Acceptable Use Policy for the web. I am attaching a 
copy of this policy for your information as this document has not yet 
been widely publicized and you probably have not seen it.

Furthermore, any links from the  site are granted based on approved 
content. The DG's office has recognized the importance of the website 
and it's ever increasing global appeal and has placed the web under the 
Communications Office. All content related or connected to the College 
site is now screened before being published or linked to.

Let me know when you are ready to meet and we can go over the changes 
and set the link together.

Thank you,
Technician at monitor


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