October 26, 2007
Make-Believe College Emerges in Second Life
Those who want to relive their college years — the Greek houses, sporting events, or late-night cram sessions at the local pizza parlor — can now do so thanks to a role-playing game, Kindly State University, that arrived this month in the virtual world, Second Life.
This reporter has yet to visit the site as KSU officials are still processing her online application. (Just like a real college, only those who complete an application are considered for admission.) One blogger who toured the site this month was impressed with the region.
(courtesy of Flickr)
“Such care and detail has been put into it, and there is just so much you could sink your teeth into and make it your own experience,” writes “JellyBean,” one of the bloggers of the Mean Girls Guide to SL (i.e., Second Life). “From the huge Samuel Lee Sports and Events Center that will be home to live performances as well as school functions and events, to the KSU Creative Learning Facility with its award-winning nationally famous KSU dinner theater, to the choices of housing if you choose to live on campus.”
JellyBean also observed on the campus a fitness center and a beach with a cave, but she recommended steering clear of the Greek house, Kappa Omega Zomma — no explanation offered. The university is now trying to fill faculty and staff positions.
Tuition is 200 Linden dollars (virtual money), and admission comes with a virtual laptop. Financial aid is available to qualified candidates.
One very old-fashioned aspect of this cutting-edge college is that no men are allowed in women’s dorm rooms between midnight and 6 a.m.
The region was started by the Second Life avatars Roberta Beauchamp, who describes herself as a 26-year-old designer from Kazakhstan, and Redd Columbia.
What does the real KSU (Kansas State University) think of all this?—-Andrea L. Foster
Posted on Friday October 26, 2007 | Permalink |Comments
Commenting is closed for this article.
Previous: Educause 2007: Can You Have Too Much Network Security?
Next: Students Find That Wikipedians Are Tougher Graders Than Their Professor
How do prospective faculty members apply?
What is the process?
— Maggie Parish Oct 26, 09:32 PM #
Maggie – The Kindly State website has a link for faculty to apply. The direct link is http://home.kindlystate.com/applyforstaff .
Andrew Careaga
http://highered.prblogs.org/
— Andrew Careaga Oct 27, 11:38 AM #
I believe in reference to this region KSU stands for Kindly State University, not Kansas State University.
— Jennifer L. Olmstead Oct 27, 01:56 PM #
What about support staff? Administration? Student services? Will KSU include these?
— Claudia Snowden Oct 29, 11:17 AM #
i do enough work at my real college… I don’t think I need another job – virtual or otherwise. :)
— Joel Oct 29, 04:36 PM #