Special Report

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On campus, the Internet will
help with that first introduction.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

Staff Writer

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Ann Arbor
or college freshmen who think there's nothing
more frightening than starting school without
knowing a soul, a Web site can introduce them to
future classmates who've signed on for the same reason.
Several Internet sites help connect college students, but
locally it is through thefacebook.com that many Jewish
young adults have been able to make friends — or even
find a roommate — online before arriving at school.
All they need is an e-mail address from one of Facebook's
832 schools and they are connected to an extensive list of
every other college student, faculty member and alumnus
from their own school who also signed up on the site. In
addition, users can access Facebook to connect with stu-
dents they already know at other participating schools.
Incoming University of Michigan freshmen Kolin Simon,
Matt Bachmann and Jennifer Briskin, all from Atlanta, were
able to make an Internet tie with one another way before
school's start date this year.
As soon as Kolin was accepted to U-M, he registered on
Facebook and discovered that, although he didn't know
them, Matt and Jennifer were both from his hometown and
also on their way to U-M. He contacted Jennifer online.
When Kolin landed in Ann Arbor for orientation,
remarkably, he spotted Jennifer in the airport, recognizing
her from her Facebook photo.
"I went up and introduced myself," said Kolin, who hitched
a ride to campus with Jennifer and her father. "Jennifer knew

of another boy from Atlanta she 'met' on Facebook [who] was
supposed to be in the same orientation [group] as us."
Once in Ann Arbor, Jennifer saw Matt.
"She said she was sure that was the boy who lived in
Atlanta," Kolin said. "Matt recognized Jennifer — also
from Facebook — and came over and talked to us. We
became good friends over the next few days."
Because they were from the same Jewish community,
they knew many of the same people back home.
"We have gotten together since orientation, went out to
dinner and bought Michigan football tickets together so we
can remain friends," Kolin said.

Virtual Friendships

While Facebook is not specifically aimed at Jewish stu-
dents, many Jewish Detroiters have logged on to the ever-
growing online directory of user profiles.
An online social arena, the site serves as a conversation
starter, a homework distraction and a protective communi-
cation barrier. Facebook claims to be adding 5,800 users
every day, according to the Associated Press.
The Web site, which began in February 2004, was the
brainchild of "late-night dorm-room conversations" among
four Harvard friends, according to Chris "Pressguy"
Hughes, one of the group.
The tech-savvy pals, also including Mark Zuckerberg
("Founder"), Dustin Moskovitz ("Destroyer") and Andrew
McCollum ("Lockbox"), had no idea what was in store.

FACE To FACE on page 18

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8/18

2005

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