The Daily Universe celebrates 50 years

A Daily Universe article printed in 1996 asked students if they could imagine attending a school where everyone on campus had e-mail and syllabuses were viewed electronically.

Less than 10 years later, the use of Internet and electronics has become so widespread that many students can't imagine living without them.

From laptops to iPods, a quick walk around campus reveals a student body dependent on electronics and the luxuries they provide.

The cell phone, once solely the privilege of the wealthy businessman, has reached the hand of nearly every student.

In 1990, "high tech" cash registers were installed, allowing BYU students to automatically pay for food with the use of a BYU identification card.

Meal plans and Signature Cards were introduced in 1991, a move that Paul Johnson, assistant director of Food Services called exciting.

Route Y was developed in 1997 and was launched as a pilot program for the Freshman Academy. Originally, Route Y was created to assist students in making the transition from high school to university.

President Merrill J. Bateman presented a big push for the advancement of technology on campus. In 1996, Bateman announced a initiative to supply all BYU students and faculty members with an electronic mailbox, or e-mail.

"The benefits of a university to access e-mail accounts for all their students and employees are an increase in communication for student to student, teacher to student, employer to employee," said John Rogerson in an article that ran July 2, 1997. Rogerson worked as the director of BYU student computing services.

In the same article a BYU student employee called the free e-mail "the nicest thing BYU has ever done" and said although she had never used e-mail before, having free e-mail motivated her to start.

With all the technological advancements rolling forward, many were concerned it would also bring about their demise as the dreaded Y2K crept near.

Local businesses and BYU prepared for the arrival of Y2K by preparing plans, committees and task forces.

A research group reported Y2K (a.k.a. the Millennium Bug) may cost a mind-boggling $3.6 trillion. Luckily, as Holly Cox reported in the Daily Universe, it passed "with hardly a ripple."

In 2001, a year after the Y2K disaster didn't happen, Apple introduced what has taken the world by storm, the iPod.

Copyright Brigham Young University 8 Dec 2005