Students are always looking for the next best resource to get their campus gossip and news. This fall semester, Sidechat has been taking over Northeastern students’ phone screens, providing anonymous, funny, and relatable memes related to events occurring on campus.
Sidechat is a platform where users can log in with their university-affiliated email addresses and write anonymous posts that are visible only within their school community. The app has quickly become part of social life at Northeastern. Users post about current events on campus such as Take it to the Floor, the sorority and fraternity dance competition, and preparation for class registration.
While Sidechat wasn’t created by a Northeastern student, the concept of app development and entrepreneurship is something that Northeastern tends to openly encourage to create a connection between technology and students on campus.
A student-developed app that I’ve discovered on campus is called Need It Now. Jack Burns, a current second-year business student at Northeastern, is one of the five founders of the business venture, Need It Now. Their intentions were to provide a platform that provides college students with the chance to rent items they need at school from other college students, which helps them save money and provides convenience, especially for those who travel a long distance to school.
“Northeastern and the opportunities they provide students here definitely played a critical role in our initial development and as we continue developing,” said Burns. Students who are able to leverage campus networks can share ideas and develop apps on their own, enhancing their college experience like Sidechat and these other student-developed apps do.
The Need It Now team is one of the many examples of students on campus coming together and bringing in their ideas to create something that will benefit the on-campus community. There are unlimited opportunities for entrepreneurship on campus. Gaining knowledge on some Northeastern student-created apps and apps made to connect students can improve students’ lifestyles. Being aware of these resources can provide students with entertainment and practicality.