While some lick stamps and envelopes to send their holiday greetings, the University Alumni Association Web site allows people to send e-postcards featuring campus scenes, sporting events and Minnesota-themed greetings.
The cards, which have been featured on the Web site since September 2002, are available for many occasions, said Gina Kennedy, senior Web editor for the association.
For Gophers athletics enthusiasts, Gophers sports scenes available include football, wrestling, rowing and volleyball.
Holiday, graduation, congratulations, thank you and birthday cards are all on the Web site, as well as a delivery card featuring a stork carrying a baby gopher.
Jenny Braun, second-year pre-pharmacy student, said she thought the e-postcards were cute, but she did not know if she would use them.
“The only people I would send (e-postcards) to is parents or relatives, not my friends,” Braun said.
Tanya Portnoy, a third-year dental student, said she would check out the Web site but would only send the postcards to relatives or friends who go to the
University.
Jeff Orosz, a third-year architecture student, said he would use the e-postcards.
“I think it’s a good idea. It lets your friends and family see things we see every day,” he said.
The cards change as new events come up, Kennedy said. Currently, holiday greeting cards are up, and homecoming cards were provided in the fall, Kennedy said.
The cards can help promote events, Kennedy said. Right now, the bowl-bound postcard is part of a push to get people to travel to Gophers bowl games, Kennedy said.
The association decided to create the e-postcards after seeing e-postcards on other schools’ Web sites. They felt it would be a good development for their own site, Kennedy said.
A link on the site allows alumni to send suggestions for e-postcards they would like to see. Kennedy said she receives a couple requests every month.
The e-postcard collection is increasing, Kennedy said. Right now, students and alumni can send a Goldy Gopher note with an attached image of Goldy.
Alumni can also send snapshots of the McNamara alumni center.
Since the site launched, 3,395 e-postcards have been sent.