Student Life

Issue date: 5/5/08 Section: Forum

Media Credit: Mike Hirshon

Well, that was a fun four years. Remember when there was a Taco Bell on campus? And that time when those dudes (and dudettes) from SWA sat in the admissions office? Oh, the memories. Frankly, however, there is only one thing that really unifies the Class of 2008: Facebook.

Facebook, formerly known as Thefacebook.com, first landed at Wash. U. on May 2, 2004. That makes us the first class to have started school with Facebook as part of our lives, whether or not we were actually on it. We complained when more and more schools were added to Facebook and were even louder when high schoolers, and then, anyone, joined as well. Instead of actually protesting for a living wage, now we can just join a Facebook group saying that we need a living wage-and NOW. In just four short years, it has morphed from a cute little distraction to an all-encompassing, ubiquitous monster. How can we not love it?

The possibilities for Facebook's further involvement in our lives are limitless. The big awkward "what are you doing next year?" conversation is all but gone-we can just check Facebook now. The infinitely more awkward getting-to-know-you conversations with the people we will soon meet are gone as well-we'll just check Facebook and make friends that way. And who knows what features Facebook will roll out next? Surely, we'll hate them. And we'll use them all.

Most of all, it will let us all stay in touch without really trying. If I somehow graduate law school and get a job, I'll try to put it up for you to see. When you get engaged or married, I'll be able to congratulate you, and we won't have to exchange a single word! When you have kids, make sure you sign them up for Facebook immediately. That way, we can all see how adorable your baby is, and you don't want little Troy or Ruth (obviously, you'll name all your children after the MVP of our national championship basketball team) to be the last kid without Facebook in his or her nursery. And when one of you (not Neil Patel, but maybe Troy Ruths?) becomes president of the United States, I can feel special since I'll know which pictures you deleted.

So, Class of 2008, let's all be Facebook friends. We joined Facebook back when it was Thefacebook. Maybe it's too important now, but we have to cherish our memories. And we'll stay connected through that Washington University in St. Louis '08 on the top of our pages.


Daniel Milstein is graduating from the college of Arts & Sciences. He is a former Senior Forum Editor for Student Life and can be reached by e-mail at daniel.milstein@wustl.edu.

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