As much as it pains us to write two upbeat editorials in a row, sometimes it can’t be avoided. And possibly, our stance (“About time”) on the recent article “Lifetime E-Mail for UMB Students” isn’t upbeat, but only lukewarm. While we echo the words of Vice Chancellor David MacKenzie that “Student e-mail … is long overdue,” we also understand Chancellor JoAnn Gora’s points about funding: “We’re not struggling over deciding to do things, we’re struggling over how to pay for them.”

While the technological capabilities of this university often seem primitive, the technological capabilities at the Mass Media offices really are primitive due to our insufficient funding. Visitors often stand aghast as they watch us work with equipment that other departments have discarded as trash.

So while we understand the difficulties of funding, we loudly agree with Vice Chancellor MacKenzie, who said, “[E-mail] is something students in this day and age [expect] as a basic service at any college or university.” Indeed, until encountering contractual problems with our web hosting company, the Mass Media offered free web based e-mail at the UMassBoston.com domain. (This service will return as soon as technically feasible.)

But overall, the progress being made on campus, whether in physical plant improvements, or technical upgrades and enhancements, continues to be heartening.