The Cmich Word is a virtual corkboard where Central students can communicate and
get connected.
To post messages, students must register, which includes creating a nickname,
a password and providing an e-mail address.
“As soon as you register, you’re ready to post,” said Creator Jon
Billiau, Macomb sophomore. “It’s that easy.”
Billiau, a computer information systems major and transfer student from Macomb
Community College, said he tailored The Cmich Word to CMU students. Message board
content includes diverse topics of discussion and a maroon-and-gold color scheme.
Students can post messages about classes, parties, housing, entertainment, on-campus
events and relationships.
The Cmich Word could help students find a roommate or subleaser, Billiau said.

“Why not look here? It’s free.”
The board also will be a useful tool for incoming freshmen to find out about campus
life, he said.
“It will be a great place for freshmen to find out about the best places
to hang out and the clubs to get into,” he said. “I have learned a lot
from message boards.”
Billiau began the Web site two weeks ago and has since invested his time and money
into the project.
He said he selected a host that was fast and offered unlimited traffic for the
site. The site is powered by INFOPOP and Ultimate Bulletin Board.
Currently, the message board includes a buddy list, an ignore list, search options
and a feature that allows students to edit their posts after they have sent them
to avoid mistakes.
The site requires users to have Macromedia Flash on their computer, but an icon
on the site makes it easy to download the program.
To ease confusion, there also are instructions to guide new users around the site.
“It shouldn’t be too confusing,” Billiau said. “It’s
pretty basic.”
He named the site The Cmich Word because it allows for student input and information
on CMU activities.
In the future, Billiau said he hopes to soon incorporate a chat room and a poll
center.
“It would be exciting to be the creator of something that gets really big,”
he said.
The Web site can be accessed at www.TheCmichWord.com.

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