EDITORIAL Despite drawbacks of the anonymous app, Yik Yak shouldn’t be banned from campuses. Page 4A
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Some college campuses ban Yik Yak app Anonymous app sparks debate over censorship, public safety BY FARAZ MIRZA STAFF WRITER
One of the fastest growing startups is being shut down on college campuses across the nation. Yik Yak, an anonymous social media app that allows users to post public comments, or “yaks,” has become popular among college campuses since its launch in 2013. Generally meant to be a fun outlet to share thoughts, jokes and observations, the application has also been known to promote gossip and breaking news.
The Trouble with Yik Yak Because the app is completely anonymous, there is no fi lter to what is posted; this has allowed a platform for cheating, serious pranks or false reports of crime and cyber-bullying through racism and hate speech. One such incident occurred at Michigan State University, where freshman Matthew Mullen who on Nov. 24, 2014 wrote on Yik Yak, “I’m gonna (gun symbol) the school at 12:15 p.m. today.” With the help of Yik Yak, MSU police tracked Matthew Mullen to his dorm room in less than two hours, after which he was arrested. Patrick Wade, communications specialist for the University of Illinois Police Department, said there haven’t been any similar incidents at the University. “As far as the specific threats like bomb threats or anything like that, to my knowledge, we haven’t
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Gabriel Gonzalez. campus representative for Yik Yak and a sophomore in the College of Media, distributes free merchandise to students on the Quad on Wednesday.
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had any of those issues, but obviously we monitor social media all the time, and we’re always looking for those kinds of things” Wade said. Wade said if these issues become relevant on campus, banning the app wouldn’t be an effi cient solution. “We’re not into the practice of censoring people,” Wade said. “The thing with social media is, if you take away one, it goes right to another.” Basic rules of the app advise against targeting other individuals; failure to follow the rules results in repeated warnings until the account is eventually suspended. Despite the possibility for these bad incidents to occur, each “yakker” has the ability to upvote or downvote on a yak, show-
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0RUH LQVLGH For our response to issues with Yik Yak content on our campus, read the editorial. Page 4A
Yik Yak Legal Guidlines
ing whether they agree. While upvotes have no limit, five downvotes result in a yak’s deletion. Many college campuses across the country have been working to resolve the negative effects of Yik Yak in different ways.
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In cases involving kidnapping, bomb threats, school shootings, or suicide threats, Yik Yak may disclose user account information to law enforcement to prevent death or serious physical harm to someone.
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Yik Yak evaluates emergency requests on a case-by-base basis.
A Quick Solution Many universities have decided banning the app may be the quickest way to solve its issues. Campuses, including Utica College in New York and Norwich University in Vermont, have already banned the app by blocking it from their respec-
tive wireless networks. The University of Michigan-Dearborn student government downvoted the app in a recent resolution . Other campuses, such as Chapel Hill in North Carolina and Clemson University in South
Carolina have considered banning the app. John Gouch , assistant director of media relations at Clemson, said there is no real plan to try to ban the app, though it
Any information Yik Yak provides in response to emergency requests is limited to what they believe would prevent the harm. Yik Yak is unable to notify the user when it receives a request from law enforcement seeking account information.
SEE YIK YAK | 3A
Champaign mayoral candidates voice stances Below is a breakdown of the candidates for Champaign’s mayoral race. Election Day is April 7.
BY JOSH WINTERS STAFF WRITER
MATT HEBRON THE DAILY ILLINI
A student participates in one of ECE Pulse conference’s student design competitions on Saturday.
Conference brings Qualcomm, Google Week-long event explores career options of ECE majors BY ANGELICA LAVITO SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
Now in its fourth year, the annual student-run conference ECE Pulse, the “Seven Wonders of ECE,” a weeklong conference running until Feb. 21., kicked off on Saturday. This is the first year the conference will be held over a week-long period, rather than a weekend, and guest speakers will make presentations on a variety of topics related to engineering. “The main goal of Pulse is basically a celebration of ECE as a major or a field of study,”
Karen Foster
Don Gerard
Joe Petry
In her own words:
In her own words:
In his own words:
• “What (people) want is somebody who they can identify with and not somebody who says ‘I have all the answers, and I know how things should be.’”
In his own words: • “The things that I’ve heard from people that they want more of is leadership, sustainable economic development and fiscal responsibility.”
Top two priorities:
Top two priorities:
City council member-at-large and Vice Chair of Regional Planning Commission
• “As an attorney, I have skills relating to mediation and negotiation, which makes collaboration with people in our community said Aswin Sivaraman, executive director of Pulse and more likely.” senior in Engineering. “We’re basically trying to show students what the industry is doing with an ECE major.” Attendees are discouraged from bringing resumes, as Sivaraman said the purpose of the conference is to focus on the technical aspects of engineering. Although the event is called ECE Pulse, Sivaraman said it is open to all majors. Speakers will cover an array of topics, from using an engineering degree to revolutionize medicine and health care to processing data in today’s fast-paced, digital world. Google, Yahoo, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm are among the companies represented at Pulse. Sivaraman said his team
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Deb Feinen
Top two priorities:
• Use Champaign’s new fiber-optic Internet infrastructure to create new jobs • Work with city government and the Champaign Police Department to find solutions to Champaign’s crime problem
On the University:
• “I understand the hard work that (students) are undertaking at the University, so I think it’s important that we continue to connect with the students on city issues.”
City council member-atlarge and Chair of Program Committee • “We need to bring maturity back to the mayor’s office, and I believe that I am the person that will be able to do it. I plan on being a 24/7 mayor.”
Top two priorities:
• Promote minority-owned business development, unbundle city contracts to create more jobs • Limit the increase of city taxes and fees
On the University:
• “I would be able to work well with Chancellor Wise, with the new president, and I think that Research Park is a key component of the University.”
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Mayor of Champaign and Professor of Economics Facilities Manager for the and Champaign Park School of Integrative Biology District Board President
• Continue economic growth through business development and job creation • Avoid cuts to public services
On the University:
• “(Some) think you shouldn’t waste your time doing interviews because students don’t vote. Well, I think that they’re my constituents as well, so I do interviews all the time, I always do things for class projects. I’ve really bent over backwards to dignify the students because they deserve it.”
• Develop a more diverse business climate in downtown Champaign • Keep businesses and jobs created at Research Park in Champaign
On the University:
• “It begins with understanding the importance of the University as the economic engine of our community. That means supporting Research Park ... it means supporting the chancellor’s idea to create a medical college.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEB FEINEN, KAREN FOSTER, DON GERARD, JOE PETRY
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