While students look forward to their Spotify Wrapped each year, the newly unveiled Lobo Wrapped feature has brought about mixed feelings among students. The feature places students in categories, similar to Spotify Wrapped. Some felt the Wrapped understood and validated their existence and habits, while others felt called out and ashamed.
Lobo Wrapped was intended as a personalization and accountability tool, presenting students with a summary of all the activities undertaken using their LoboID, such as accessing on-campus libraries, the gym, and even where and how often they use their meal swipes. Access is also analyzed based on time of day and relative frequency and employs algorithmic analyses of possible driving factors for student choices.
“We wanted to provide students with a memorable way to look back on how they spent time at the University,” Jacob Shekuff from the Department of Student Affairs said. “In the age of personalization, higher education must not fall behind. This cutting edge feature will help us stay on top of current trends and make school a cool thing among students.”
Hannah Zusammen, a third-year sociology major whose top place was Zimmerman Library, did not approve of Lobo Wrapped. Zusammen was placed in the top 1% of users.
“I was placed in the ‘NERD’ club, by my University, which I do not appreciate,” Zusammen said.
Zusammen said the practice was mean-spirited and algorithmic bullying.
“The description literally feels like a high school bully’s consciousness got uploaded to the cloud and was assigned to spy on students,” Zusammen said.
Other students experienced similar discomfort.
“I feel like I’m being watched,” Philip Harrus said.
Harrush’s Lobo Wrapped reads “We know you’ve been skipping classes,” on account of insufficient usage of the LoboID to enter the Farris engineering building.
“Whatever. My average is a B anyway,” Harrush said.
Laura Koval, a fourth-year economics and philosophy double major is very pleased with her Lobo Wrapped. Koval was named an “It-Girl/It-Boy,” with her Wrapped citing regular visits to the library, the gym and various campus facilities.
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“It feels great to know that I really did it all as an undergrad,” Koval said.
Connie Blackwell, a first-year undecided major whose top place is the Chick-Fil-A in the Student Union Building, was ambivalent about Lobo Wrapped.
“It didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know, and I honestly just went ‘LOL’ when I saw it. The ‘Have you ever heard of a vegetable?’ was kind of unnecessary though and having UNMH’s number listed for future reference is mean but I’ll take it,” Blackwell said.
“We live in a surveillance state,” Lance Phillips said, a third year philosophy and political science double major who has refused to open his Lobo Wrapped.
Colin Wyles, a sophomore Business Administration major, feels flattered and targeted by the new Wrapped feature. A section of Wyle’s Lobo Wrapped was titled “Are You Okay,” with its description listing that Wyles entered the gym three-to-five times a day.
“Did you go through a break up? Do you have body image issues? The gym is not the solution. Seek help, go to therapy,” the Wrapped reads.
Wyles, who opened the particular section of the Wrapped for the interview, went contemplatively silent after reading it.
“How did it know?” Wyles asked.
Shin Thant Hlaing is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
