My Network

Being in this university and in this class makes me involved in participatory culture. There is a vast amount of social networking involved—meeting new people everyday. It is an enormous knowledge community because everyone is sharing what they know. The first assignment we did in Ian Riley’s class was the media autobiography. Presenting our autobiographies to the class is a form of social networking, teaching others about who we are and how media affects our lives.

Furthermore, I am unbelievable hooked to the social networking site, Facebook. What is it about the site that makes me so hooked? It constantly distracts me from my train of thought. Is it because I’m nosy? I hope not. To tell you the truth, I never use the site to its full extent; all I do is look at people’s picture albums. I’m not a stalker.

I participate much more in the ‘culture’ than being in class and on the Internet. I am the President of the South Asian Alliance at Guelph-Humber. South Asian Alliance is a seven-university alliance (UTSG, UTSC, UTM, Ryerson, McMaster, York & Guelph-Humber) that has been together since 1999. It has grown from three chapters to seven chapters in the last few years, Guelph-Humber being the seventh addition. The South Asian Alliance has over 10,000 members!

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

This quote holds great impact and meaning to our alliance.

Our alliance’s goal is to “be the change”. We want to connect all members together (they do not have to be South Asian) through social networking events. This is my first year ever being with South Asian Alliance, being a first year member and President. Through sponsorship and a hardworking executive team, we participate in a South Asian Alliance Culture Show every year at the Hershey centre against 16 Canadian Universities. This year we will be having Dalhousie University from Halifax participate in the show. The social networking involved in this alliance goes across the country.

In the upcoming week, with the help of 13 presidents from the other universities, we will be holding a Formal at Payal Banquet Hall. We will have 1300 university/college students at the event; where they will meet each other, watch a bhangra competition, have dinner, enjoy music and dance. We also hold three club events a year with 1000 university/college students. We sell tickets, make flyers, hire police and security, DJs, book venues and give to charity (4% of our profit goes to a charity that changes every year).

Visit www.southasianalliance.ca

Social Networking is a huge part of my life and I wish to continue this in my future. Everyone is a part of social networking whether they believe it or not—from meeting people at school to being a part of an alliance. It is a participatory culture that meets no ends.

UPDATED ON NOVEMBER 14th 2009:

The video I have attached to this blog post is the dance my team made for the Formal we had, our school came in third place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGGZWZAJsKo