Inside this Issue
Hirning Family “Keeps Paying it Forward” | Page 2
Black History Month Must-Reads | Page 5
An Inaguration Fitted in American Fabrics | Page 8
The Bengal
isubengal.com 3 February 2021
Volume 46 Issue 19
The Independent Voice at Idaho State University Since 1910
Email Aliases and Name Changes Kyran Cates Reporter From Dec. 11 through Dec. 13, Idaho State University’s IT services rolled out an alteration of the university email format, leaving many students and staff with two email addresses and little explanation as to why the revision was made. Similarly, students have struggled with updating their preferred name through ISU records and have consequently experienced difficulties with obtaining an appropriate email address, which only makes the circumstances even more frustrating. Chief Information Officer of the IT department, Tony Lovgren, was able to answer a few questions about why “alias email addresses” were assigned, and how students can go about updating their preferred name with ISU. Previously, ISU emails included the first four letters of individuals’ last and first names. “Information Technology Services was tasked with eliminating the 4x4 email naming convention (e.g. bengbenn@isu.edu) and replacing it with a more contemporary naming convention,” Lovgren said. The new aliases hope to better represent students and staff by using their actual names in the firstnamelastname@isu.edu format.
Please Recycle
In order to avoid extreme difficulties with the change, ITS chose to preserve the old email addresses in addition to the alias emails. “The old ISU email address still functions since both addresses are part of the same email account. However, any newly sent email messages will default to the new email alias address,” Lovgren said. While this change may seem intricate, it ultimately should not have any negative consequences for students and staff. As for students seeking to update their preferred name, whether out of preference or gender affirmation, ISU attempts to make the goal as attainable as possible. According to the preferred first name data standard, ISU recognizes that students, staff, and faculty may identify with names other than their legal names. There are several formats in which community members are allowed preferred names, such as a shortened derivative of a name, a middle name instead of a first name or a name that Continued on page 2 Cover Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University
Got news? Let us know.
Contact The Bengal at bgnews@isu.edu
Follow The Bengal: @ISUBengal
@ISUBengal
isubengal