Associated Students, Inc. is resurrecting an online bulletin board system to evaluate professors, after a three semester absence due to slanderous postings.

Associated Students Professor Evaluation and Comment Tracker (ASPECT), is a Web site that posts ratings and comments of Sacramento State professors.

The predecessor, which resided on ASI’s Web site, was shut down in February 2001 when an unidentified professor was humiliated with defamatory remarks.

ASI Post Baccalaureate Director Mohamed Hamada has been adamant about the return of ASPECT, and has implemented measures to ensure professors are protected.

“This program is essential because it allows student input to be heard,” said Mohamed. “The system will be more secure because we have sought legal counsel that advised us to provide better instructions and to add a disclaimer.”

Some security ideas proposed included a board monitor and a sign-in feature that would ensure only Sac State students could post to it.

Sacramento lawyer, William F. Wright, advised ASI to disregard both of those ideas, because it defeats the purpose of the board.

“If you monitor the board, it turns into an ASI Web site as opposed to students,” said Wright. “It would be impossible to set guidelines for content control without giving the monitor the right of censorship. Sign-in features are risky because tracking students would, again, introduce content control, and if the student opinions are not anonymous, they will be less frank.”

When posting evaluations on the site, students must agree that they will not post slanderous, obscene or threatening messages, and all postings must relate to a professors performance.

The construction of the message board is going to be executed by students interested in a senior project topic.”The board should be up and running in a temporary format by next semester,” said Hamada. “The permanent site will be ready by fall of 2003.”

The cost associated with the creation and maintenance of ASPECT shall be included within the main ASI Web site budget starting with the 2003-2004 fiscal year, said Hamada.

Students are supportive of the eventual return of the board, as it can increase awareness of professor’s teaching styles and enhance compatibility.

Sac State junior, Mark Mendoza, wishes the board had been a mainstay when he transferred last fall.

“It is an excellent idea because you can plan your schedule based on teachers you find interesting,” said Mendoza.

Sac State professor Steve Jenkins has a conflicting opinion, stating the board will turn teachers into victims of faceless critics.”I have a problem with anonymous accusations and criticism that rates professors like a movie review,” Jenkins said. “An anonymous board acts like written gossip when (message board) posters are not held responsible for their words.”

Jenkins is adamant in his support of a board monitor to filter out false accusations that could ensue.

He is a proponent of the old-fashioned approach of two-way communication, where students can submit their concerns directly through conversation with him.