A new gossip site for university students has some university administrators trying to block on-campus access.

Room 110, a website modelled after the television show Gossip Girl, is intended to show what goes on in universities and college campuses across Canada.

The website launched in the middle of November and features photos, opinions and rumors about students from 19 different campuses, including McGill, Brock University and the University of British Columbia.

“I think people like seeing what’s really going on at different schools,” said Derek Paul, a media relations representative for the website. “It’s a fun way to [show] the ‘reality’ of what school is all about after classes are over.”

Since its creation, university officials have sent in letters in an attempt to remove parts of the website, according to Canadian Newswire.
Some schools have even gone through great lengths to try and block the website URL from their school’s computers.

Second-year Carleton economics student Julien Boose said he doesn’t think the website is a good idea. “This seems pointless to me because I’ll be reading about something that does not impact me at all. Some things are none of your business,” he said.

Still, Paul said the positive feedback has outweighed the negative. “Obviously you can’t please everyone, but so far there has been way more positive than negative,” he said. “We love that people either way are passionate about how they feel.”

He said the site receives between 100 to 500 submissions every day.

Maria Morgan, a second-year communications student, said she would use the website if it came to Carleton.

“I like gossip and I think it would be interesting, but I don’t think I would want it overtaking our lives at Carleton,” Morgan said.

In an interview with The Ryersonian, Pam Blomfield, a public relations representative for the Wilfrid Laurier University student union, said she doesn’t think it would hurt the school’s reputation.

“All schools have students who like to engage in activities that aren’t as responsible as they could be,” Blomfield said. “So as far as schools’ reputations, I don’t feel like it overshadows too much.”

Paul said Room 110 is looking to expand to more universities.