function startIM(){
  var url = '/getstatus.php';
  for (var i = 0; i < arguments.length; i++) {
    var pars = 'user=' + arguments[i];
    var span = arguments[i];
    var myStatus = new Ajax.PeriodicalUpdater( span, url, { method: 'get', parameters: pars, frequency: 5, decay: 1.5});
  }
}

FastInit.addOnLoad(startIM('jdk','greg','kathy','jessica','wade','ryann'));