A study invoked the uses and gratifications framework to look at a computerized bulletin board used largely by Indian students. Computer printouts of the first 15 messages entered into the bulletin board for each of 7 consecutive days (for a total of 105 messages) were classified by a human coder into categories of surveillance, diversionary, cultural identity needs of the individual, and social integrative. Results indicated that: (1) participation in what could be viewed as an interactive form of ethnic press served primarily to promote social identity and integration rather than assimilation into their environment; and (2) the bulletin board was used more as a support group (serving cultural identity and social integration needs) than as a newsgroup (serving needs for surveillance of the environment). (Sixty-one references are attached.) (RS)