Second Life: Whitmyre Island

Whitmyre Island is a virtual reality version of Whitmyre Hall, the living learning home of the Robert E. Cook Honors College, built in a 3D world called Second Life as a place for our community of scholars to congregate and talk to each other no matter where we are in the world. Classes can be held there. You can talk to scholars from around the world there. It is there for you to explore and create in.

The building itself has been made from actual pictures taken inside Whitmyre. With a click of the mouse you can read the newspapers in the lobby or listen to the radio. There is a huge video area that shows tutorials on how to use Second Life and live television filmed in Second Life (a new form of media known as machinima is used to create these video feeds).

There is also a huge building area called a sandbox where anyone can learn to create in this virtual world, because this isn't just any online 3D universe. This universe was created by its users, people who question the world around them. In other words, people like you. Whitmyre Island is only one island in the huge universe of Second Life. As you would expect from the Honors College, we would like to encourage you to explore and learn wherever you go. Satisfy your curiosity.

There are areas and groups in Second Life dedicated to just about anything you are interested in. For example, there are places dedicated to philosophy, role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, politics and art. Harvard, Stanford and Trinity are just a few other universities that you can find in Second Life. You can easily meet and talk to people from around the world or practice your Spanish in Spanish speaking areas. Real life temp agencies such as Manpower recruit for real life jobs in Second Life.

It's a big world. You'd be surprised at what you can find out there.

While we do encourage you to explore and have fun, please remember to keep your behavior PG when you are on IUP land. This means no profanity, combat or sex on Whitmyre Island. There are plenty of other places in Second Life where they appreciate that kind of thing. Whitmyre Island is a community of scholars. Please behave accordingly.

Sounds cool? Want to see it?

Download the Second Life Whitmyre Island 'How To' guide

Shortcut to Whitmyre Island for those of you who already have an avatar in Second Life