E-cards are rapidly becoming a popular way for students to spice up ordinary e-mail messages.
Greg Howell, a marketing freshman, sent his first e-card his junior year of high school.
“I like sending and receiving e-cards,” Howell said. “Some of them them are humorous or spiritual — but, they all make people feel good.”
The e-card phenomenon is even sweeping across the University.
On the University’s home page, there is a link students can use to send LSU-oriented e-cards.
Jennifer Pickard, University Relations web and graphic designer, said the e-card link became available a year ago.
“LSU Highlights is a way for us to promote LSU news and events,” Pickard said. “We decided e-cards and wallpaper would be a great, fun way for us to get more use out of the pictures we gathered through Highlights,” Pickard said.
Sarah Graham, an anthropology sophomore, said she likes to send LSU e-cards to her friends at different schools.
“I have friends at a couple of SEC colleges, so I especially like to send them during football season,” she said. “It’s a nice way to remind them that they are about to get their butt kicked in Death Valley.”
According to Pickard, the number of students using e-cards usually depends on what event has occurred.
“The e-cards were popular after we won the Sugar Bowl,” she said. “We had images of the trophy and some the players that we received from the athletic department and a lot of people were sending them.”
Pickard said students currently sending e-cards are only allowed to send a message with the photo they chose.
“There is eventually going to be a second phase added to the system,” Pickard said. “This second phase will allow students to add a salutation, change the type of font and color, and add sound effects.”
Pickard said students may even add Mike the Tiger’s roar to their messages.
“We are always willing to take suggestions from students about what we can do improve the system,” she said. “If there is a specific event or subject students are interested in, we can use their feedback to design a set of e-cards.”
Howell said even though the cards are popular among with him and his friends, he still would prefer giving and receiving paper cards from time to time.
“Actual cards take more effort to give because you have to go to the store, find the perfect card, and buy it,” Howell said. “But, they last longer and show that you made a conscious effort to do something nice for that person.”
Pickard said she does not believe the popularity of the e-card will replace traditional cards.
“E-cards are a nice way for people surfing on the web to give their friends and family a quick message that says, ‘Hey, I’m thinking of you,'” she said.