Below is the application for UGL Webmaster for the year 2012 (Please also read this thread BEFORE you vote) The application will be open until 11/3/2011 at ~12:00am, at the end of this time an election will be held.

Voting Rules:
* Anyone who votes must also post in the thread, stating that they have done so.
* Voting privileges are granted to all UGL members with a forum user name who are either actively enrolled at Ball State or will be in the next semester (Summer semester excluded).
* Users shall receive a single vote, which they may change as many times as they wish before the deadline
* All polls will have their results hidden until the deadline.

REPLY TO TOPIC TO APPLY.

Duties:

* Managing the back end of a web server
* Determining the way in which the site is structured, and the general aesthetic of the programming
* Working with the Coordinator, game admins, and development team to provide necessary tools to support UGL events
* Acting as year-round global forum moderator
* Appointing a team of developers to assist in writing modules for the site, and Global Moderators to assist in forum moderation.
* Designing new features that will make the user interface more accessible and inviting to new members.
* Updating features detailing upcoming events, rules, and other game or organization related content.



Webmaster Application 2012 term
1. Why do you want to be the Webmaster?
2. Have you ever administrated or programmed for a database-driven dynamic web site before? Links?
3. Do you have design experience? Could you provide a sample of your work?
4. Have you ever taken programming classes? What sorts?
5. How familiar are you with managing and configuring web servers, specifically Apache?
6. Do you have any other commitments? What are they, and how do you expect to balance them with your role as Webmaster?
7. Do you have experience with XHTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, SQL, XML and/or other applicable languages? How much of each?
8. Are there any major changes you feel should be made to the website? Briefly outline your vision.
9. How often do you visit the forums?
10. Have you already been a developer specifically for UGL? For how long?
11. What is your favorite aspect of the website and forums? Least favorite? How do you think these will affect your performance as a Webmaster?
12. What do you intend to do to further good public relations, both within the organization, and with outside groups?
14. Advertising is a critical part of all events. What new ideas for advertising can you bring to the table?
15. Are you currently or in danger of being on Academic Probation?
(16.) Anything else you would like us to know? Flavor text is nice, but keep it short.


REPLY TO TOPIC TO APPLY

Webmaster Application 2012 term

1. Why do you want to be the Webmaster?

There are multiple reasons I want to become Webmaster, but the main reason is I want to be more active in the UGL leadership to help out as much as I possibly can. I have lots of experience working on designs for websites and coding in HTML, CSS, and PHP. With my previous experience of being a web designer and web programmer, I think becoming Webmaster would be the best fit for both UGL and I.

2. Have you ever administrated or programmed for a database-driven dynamic web site before? Links?

I worked for the Ball State magazine company, Ball Bearings, in which I used advance PHP and SQL to completely redo their website and to make it easier to upload stories. I put in well over 200 hours into rebuilding and redesigning their site last year for the editor and online editor. We actually won second place for best online magazine in a student competition. I would link the site, but with the new year brought in a new editor who decided to make the website reflect what she wanted it to.

3. Do you have design experience? Could you provide a sample of your work?

I have designed two websites for different companies/groups. One was for an iPhone app company called DM Games. The other was for Ball Bearings, the Ball State’s magazine company. I have designed way more for myself for different projects or by just messing around. Here are a couple of pictures of some of my design work:

DM Games:

http://postimage.org/image/3ndi4qni3/

Landscape (personal project):

http://postimage.org/image/4qxmgp857/

Desk (personal project):

http://postimage.org/image/v0iozhu2j/ (photoshop)
http://postimage.org/image/qcxizw753/ (original picture)

4. Have you ever taken programming classes? What sorts?

I have taken a website design class in High School and a website programming class here at Ball State. I have taught myself different coding languages that I used in the past. It has been the quickest and best method of learning different languages for me personality.

5. How familiar are you with managing and configuring web servers, specifically Apache?

I am actually running about six different websites on my laptop at this moment. All of them were/are either class projects or personal projects that I am currently working on. I have lots of experience of working on web servers and getting them set up to run the way I want them to.

6. Do you have any other commitments? What are they, and how do you expect to balance them with your role as Webmaster?

I have only a couple of other commitments including: class work (duh!), working as a mod for Capture the Flag, and friends/family/girlfriend though I do think I could balance them with being a Webmaster.

7. Do you have experience with XHTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, SQL, XML and/or other applicable languages? How much of each?

I have experience with XHTML, CSS, JavaScript (though I really dislike using Java), LOTS of PHP, SQL, but only some of XML. I have worked with CSS, HTML, PHP, and SQL a lot with Ball Bearings and other past projects both personal and professional.

8. Are there any major changes you feel should be made to the website? Briefly outline your vision.

1) Redo the website design
2) Change the layout of the website
3) Working on cleaning up the roster layout
4) Want to work on a mobile web app
5) Want to make something similar a zombie leader board for kills (give zombies some way to brag) *maybe*
6) Give out website “medals” for players that show up to games/objectives (give humans some other way to brag) *maybe*
7) Change how the voting system works via the forums (make it easier for people to know when to vote and how to vote)
8) Etc.

9. How often do you visit the forums?

I try to look at the forums at least once a day or more depending if a game is running/ voting going on. I think it is a great tool to help people when they need it.

10. Have you already been a developer specifically for UGL? For how long?

I have never developed for UGL in the past though I am looking forward to working for UGL in the future. I am planning on bringing in new ideas and perspective to UGL.

11. What is your favorite aspect of the website and forums? Least favorite? How do you think these will affect your performance as a Webmaster?

My favorite part about the site is the roster during Humans vs. Zombies games though I think it could be cleaned up and designed better. My least favorite would be the overall design of the site. I think there is a lot of room for improvement. I think as Webmaster I would enhance both the roster and the overall design to make it as best as possible.

12. What do you intend to do to further good public relations, both within the organization, and with outside groups?

I am planning on making the site a bit easier to use for new members of UGL by removing some of the confusion of signing up for games and overall design of how to register to join Humans vs. Zombies. Also want to add a press page explaining the different games and what UGL is about for the Ball State’s magazine, newspaper, and online news outlets.

13. Advertising is a critical part of all events. What new ideas for advertising can you bring to the table?

With an addition of a press page for UGL, I believe that the Ball State’s news outlets would find it easier to write an article about Humans vs. Zombies, Capture the Flag, Dagorhir, or any other events. Getting our name out to the school via Ball State’s news outlets would hopefully help generate a buzz that will boost our current advertising scheme.

14. Are you currently or in danger of being on Academic Probation?

No, I am not currently in danger of being on Academic Probation.

(15.) Anything else you would like us to know? Flavor text is nice, but keep it short.

I love pancakes!
Check out my presentation from the Election seminar!

I have 3 reasons I want to be UGL's Webmaster for 2012.
1. I love this organization, and I want to give back to it.
2. It looks good on my resume. (It even has a monocle.)
3. I was the previous webmaster, and the current website is my baby. I have many plans for it, and I would like to develop it more, and see it come to it's full intended purpose and completion.


Yes I have.
1. BSUGL's current website (Link: click the header in the forum)
2. Professional Motion (a company in Indy, who I am developing a website for. I was just hired a two weeks ago, so I have no link yet)

I have managed several other websites, RHA's, my own, Lemmy Saylors, and several other students, but none of them required the use of a database.



I designed the current BSUGL website. I've designed a personal website for Lemmy Saylor and several other students as well, but I do not remember the web addresses. I designed RHA's website that was used from 2009-2010. Sadly my screenshots of that site were lost with the crash of my laptop.


Yes. To this date, I have taken:
CS 120, 121, 124, 230, 232, 310, 315, 327, 335, 345, 376, 436, 456, 499
This ranges from Basic to Advanced Java, Web Programming (xml, html, css, javascript, php, asp.net), Lisp, Prolog, C++, C, Python, and Assembly.


I've done it with BSUGL's website so far, and expect to have to do it at my new job. The other websites I've managed didn't use Apache.


I have a full courseload, a job at Big Lots, and a job at Professional Motion. I balance my commitments with an organized schedule on my phone, reminding me of what is due and when I need to be doing things.


Yes to all of them. I've taken classes on all of them and used them all in multiple contexts. I've very experienced. I started learning HTML, CSS, and XML in the 6th grade, through self teaching. In High school I taught myself Javascript. I didn't use PHP or SQL until college, but I have 2 years experience with both, as well as having taken a class on them. I also have some experience in flash, but it is dying, and I wouldn't use it for BSUGL's website anyways.


I have many plans for the website. Currently, I'm finishing up a voting system such that we can abandon the forum software for purpose of elections, and simplify the process. I have plans for each game to have a roster, which players may add themselves to in order to indicate interest. This will open them up to receiving emails from admins (who will have a control panel where such email lists will be compiled).

My other big plans for the website is an image gallery, where those interested can search by game type and event date/name, to view photos take at said event. I plan to integrate it in a way such that players may upload their own photos as well.

The roster system (both UGL's roster and the game's rosters) need to be redesigned. Profiles also need redesigning.

I'd also like to develop a mobile application for HvZ, allowing the entering of QR Feed codes on the go. Anything else that applies to the games specifically I will leave up to the Administrator to ask for.

Aside from those functional and cosmetic changes, I want to go back through the framework and redesign a lot of it, making rendering smoother and faster, as well as making the website more browser friendly. It would also make it easier for people to join, as well as register quickly for games, and find information (like feed codes).

TL;DR:
1. Voting System
2. Image Gallery
3. Redesign Roster and Profiles
4. Mobile HvZ App
5.Framework and Backend changes, improving ease of use.


I visit them at least once a week during the school year, if not once a day. During HvZ there is not an 8 hour period when I'm not on them. I lurk a lot. My OCD about no topics being unread (orange) makes sure of that.


I've been the Webmaster and main developer for UGL for the past year and a half I believe...


My favorite aspect of the website would be the tabbed browsing. I find it convenient, although a pain to program. It puts more relevant information onto one page without the need to refresh or load another page. My least favorite aspect of the website would be the twitter sidebar not functioning, the load sequence, the roster layout, the profile design, and the lack of the calendar being used.

For the forum, my favorite aspect would be the ease of use. My least favorite is ... idk. There aren't really any parts I inherently dislike.

I see my least favorite aspects being a driving factor in getting the website to completion based on my standards.


I always try to act courteous, both on the forums and in real life. I've found this to be most effective in matters of public relations in all aspects.


I brought up the idea of QR code advertising last year, but I didn't follow it up. I intend to do so this semester. I intend the QR code to lead to a site optimized for handheld devices.


No, in fact I just got back on scholarship.


Stay classy

Check out my presentation from the Election Seminar!