On a more optimistic note, things are getting better, though not very rapidly. Until recently the "What's New" page was essentially empty, the telephone directory was stuck in the previous century and even Bilkent News was a month out of date! Most of these are now reasonably up-to-date, as are many other official catalogue-like pages, even if most are in a rather bland database format. In fact, the "Office of the Dean of Students" webpage (under "Facilities & Services") does now boast a slightly more respectable home page for the union and some of its clubs.

Maintaining web sites takes time, enormous amounts of it, but, increasingly, an institution's website is its first point of contact with the public. It is also a vital link for its own personnel. For this reason, the university needs to devote at least as much time, effort, attention and money to its web publishing as it does to its more traditional print variety.

Evidently, Bilkent finally has a full-time web administrator to support and coordinate such activities. Still, it is up to each of us, as individuals making personal webpages and as members of various clubs and departments putting together web sites, to help correct the current sad state of affairs. It is time we all make a conscious effort to maintain our very public web image.