University | 3:52 pm | April 28, 2012 | By Liz Rodriguez-Florido

ITS launches revamped Yale Facebook

It’s now easier than ever to stalk screw dates and that guy in your English 127 section, thanks to updates to Yale Facebook launched this week.

Information and Technology Services launched an updated version of the Yale Facebook on Thursday, which features a cleaner layout, easier search settings and better viewing capabilities on iPads and other tablet devices, said Paul Lawrence, director of learning environments for ITS.

Lawrence said ITS started remodeling Yale Facebook after the Yale College Council and focus groups from Yale College suggested last fall that the University’s undergraduate directory could use some upgrades.

“I heard from both the YCC leadership and Yale College that [Yale Facebook] continues to be an important tool … that seemed to be falling out of date,” he said. “We’re hoping that the re-launch will improve accessibility and drive further usage.”

YCC secretary Matt Williams ’13 said in a Thursday email that the site’s new version is “more eye-appealing” and easier to navigate, adding that the YCC’s efforts on this project were part of this year’s executive board’s aim to improve the technological resources available to students.

Before the update, Yale Facebook required users to specify a single category to search — for example, last name, hometown or major. Now, users can search all fields at once, Lawrence said.

Lawrence said ITS hopes to make further improvements to Yale Facebook based on feedback from the Yale community, adding that ITS is looking into creating a mobile version of the site.

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