InterVarsity's StudentSoul.org

How is the Web important to student culture, and what are its opportunities and dangers? This week we interview Zach Conrad, an InterVarsity campus staff member at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, and we’re using questions you’ve submitted. He is also the media coordinator for the North Central region, and runs the website StudentJourney. Zach graduated from Minnesota State University–Moorhead in 1997 with a degree in marketing and a concentration in graphic communications.

StudentSoul: Where did the idea for StudentJourney come from? What are its purposes?

Zach Conrad: When I first came on staff with InterVarsity in 1998, I was gearing up for the fall New Student Outreach. I was trying to think of an easy way to let students know more about the ministry on campus and have an exciting website to draw interest. The website was called “The Zone” — cheesy name, I know — but it did allow a way to connect. It started out having a few links to various articles and websites that I thought students might grow through. However, I started getting a vision for using the website as a way to help ministry on campus become more efficient and effective instead of solely being a place to know more about InterVarsity. That’s when the website changed dramatically and became StudentJourney.org.

StudentJourney became an experiment in changing how chapter leaders and staff ministered to their chapter and campus using the Web. I graduated in marketing and graphic communications, and so marketing, eye-catching design and interesting content were important to me. I began looking at how other campus and student websites were succeeding and failing, researching the usefulness of features, and asking leaders and staff what would help them minister more effectively. When it came to features to add, I started asking, “What are the excuses (good or bad) that my leaders are sharing and what are the barriers in the way to reach their campus for Christ?” I saw how I could help our regional chapters and staff move beyond these barriers and move forward through the Web.

Today, StudentJourney features multiple sections including chapter websites, a library, a missions site, events site, regional information, and a link directory as well as national InterVarsity news, articles and fun caveats. We have continued to see growth each year and have seen more chapters take advantage of the tools offered and as a result, over 67% of visitors are viewing chapter websites. Leaders are able to securely create a chapter directory in seconds, follow up with students who have not hung around lately, send emails to the chapter, easily update their calendar, upload photo albums, and much more. I am delighted to see how God is helping chapters through StudentJourney.

StudentJourney is such a large project, that I am now on campus one-third of my time and two-thirds on the website and regional media, including print and video. It’s exciting to see how my skills and passions are able to be used for God’s purposes.

StudentSoul: In these past years, what have you learned about your student audience and the ways they use the Web? How have your expectations been affirmed or changed?

Zach Conrad: One of the most surprising aspects of the student audience I see today is that very few actually visit websites on a regular basis. On one of my recent polls of students at a conference, Google and various webmail sites were the only places mentioned that they use on a daily basis. When I tried to go further, I heard a few mention that they read a few blogs, but only with RSS and even then, haphazardly. As a result, I have been asking questions about what they would like in a website focused on spiritual issues and how they would like to interact with it. It was obvious from the beginning that their interests were on comments, opinions, question and answer, as well as an active forum on various topics. What is interesting is that StudentJourney.org had a forum at one time, but due to a lack of involvement, I took it down. I added comments to articles, but responses were rare. The library has a ranking system, but few share their opinions. Polls would not be voted on. Basically, the things that students said they wanted were made available and not used. So, I started looking at the real question, “Why aren’t people responding?” I had to remember that, “Content is king!” So, if I want student to interact and engage in discussion, it needs to be something they are interested in, have an opinion about and that has a little controversy to spice it up so they come back to see if others responded.

As with most things media related — flash, video, good design, etc. — presentation is not just important, it’s expected. One of the greatest hurdles is to create content that matches the presentation. Who cares if it has the flash and bang but no return? People simply don’t return without the content. The means to let people get that content is changing though. Syndication such as RSS is the wave of the future, and the connected social network is the new word-of-mouth. As I work to restructure StudentJourney, these are the trends on which I am basing not only the design and content, but also the technology for getting the latest content to students.

StudentSoul: So where do you get design inspiration? What are your favorite websites or other sources?

Zach Conrad: Inspiration is in front of me all the time. I don’t think too many developers dare share just how much time they spend online looking at various websites, going to museums, reading newspapers and magazines, and getting as much eye-candy in one sitting at Barnes and Noble sucking down a Caramel Frapp. Let’s just say that for me, I spend a lot of time doing, ahem, “research.”

As far as specific websites, I am an avid visitor to RelevantMagazine.com, AListApart.com, k10k.net, netdiver.net, designmeltdown.com and multiple website galleries. I also keep on top of blogs such as andybudd.com, mezzoblue.com, jasonsantamaria.com, leftjustified.net, creativebits.org, and a myriad of others. These mostly pertain to design and development. I also reference a number a websites and blogs for technology inspiration of PHP programming, PostgreSQL databases, and Linux.

StudentSoul: What’s the biggest danger for Christians online? What’s the biggest benefit?

Zach Conrad: The biggest danger for Christians online varies for people. I am sure most expect me to point out the dangers of pornography, social networking, and yes, Internet Explorer (I am a Firefox junkie). While I don’t disagree that these are very real dangers, I haven’t dealt with getting burnt by these ills. I believe the biggest danger for Christians online is the sheer amount of time wasted — time that could be used in building up the church and making a dent for the kingdom of God. Porn is accessible outside of the Web. Social networking fears can be just as bad at a party as MySpace and Xanga. We spend so much time online. We IM each other all day, write on each other’s Facebook wall, TXT or SMS, join in on our favorite online multi-player games, and multitask to the point of distraction. I find it probable that I have ADHD and am an always-on kind of person. I also find just how easy it is to hide in this instant information lifestyle. IMHO, if we would just RTM (the Bible) and spend time doing some quality spiritual IM’ing (prayer), and prioritize our lives according to what God is asking of us, we might just slow down enough to be effective and empowered to do God’s work instead of allowing our lives to be distracted and too busy to fulfill the Great Commission and even the Great Commandment. Why do I say this? Because I have seen it lived out in my mirror.

StudentSoul: You mention a lot of distractions, and yet there’s no denying they affect our daily lives. What role do you think the Web has in effecting cultural change?

Zach Conrad: A big, fat, hairy role! Whether it is political, social, grassroots, viral marketing, forum noise and even spam, the Web will continue to influence, shape, and push just as every form of media has and will. Do a simple study on email viruses, the latest YouTube video and funny forwards. That will tell you what people at the water cooler will be talking about within days of being released. Beyond mere information, if you can’t find something online, this generation often gets frustrated or thinks less of an organization, business or person. If you don’t have a Web presence, you are sadly missing this generation.

StudentSoul: Let’s get a little deeper. One reader asks, “How can the Web contribute to the racial healing of the American Church?” Any thoughts?

Zach Conrad: Someone once said that Sunday is the most segregated day of the week. I think the Web can contribute to the awareness of racism and give practical steps towards racial healing within the American Church. But in reality, it’s going to be an issue of people getting up from the pew, walking over and confessing, repenting, and relating to each other. I think of a quote from John F. Kennedy, “One person can make a difference and every person must try.”

Having said that, the Web can be a very useful part in advocating change and in offering a place for people to openly share their fears, struggles, and approach to racism. But again, unless something is done in the dialog that will help bring healing and reconciliation, it will fall on deaf ears and mute mouths. As Ravi Zacharias once said, “How do you reach a generation that listens with its eyes and thinks with its feelings?” I think this is where the Web will address this (and many other social issues) in non-conventional ways. Will this be solved quickly? No. Is it intriguing? Absolutely. Do I have an answer? I wish.

StudentSoul: Do you have a vision for every InterVarsity chapter in your region (and beyond) to have a viable chapter website? What is your vision, and how can students get going?

Zach Conrad: StudentJourney already offers every chapter in our region a self-administrated website and personalized chapter administration area complete with chapter email, announcements, Web pages, photo albums, file uploads, chapter directory, mass email system, and events calendar as well as tools for specific leader positions. Everything is secured by username and password and is not open to the public but only those with access. This allows for chapters to effectively administer their chapter without much hassle or technical know-how. Although many chapters continue to have their own website and even domains, most are using the chapter administration tools for ease of use, continuity year to year, and because it is built specifically for them. I am working on creating new themes that will be released with the new StudentJourney overhaul.

StudentJourney is easily adaptable to other regions or even nationally in design, but it is currently positioned as our regional website. The vision and future for StudentJourney is wide open. I am always looking for new ideas or tools to provide a means to remove barriers to ministry on campus.

Zach Conrad is married to Janna and has two beautiful girls, Emerson and Zoë. Besides InterVarsity work, Zach enjoys playing Yahtzee with his wife, reading to his girls, and geeking out with computers, gadgets, and book collection. If you want to know more about what StudentJourney is up to from an administrative standpoint, check out http://sjorg.blogspot.com/, the official StudentJourney blog.