Mass E-Mail Causes Outrage

In a potential violation of University policy, a mass e-mail was sent on Tuesday to undergraduate Internet users advertising this Friday's concert featuring two a capella groups, the Opportunes and the Callbacks.

The e-mail advertisement, which listed the date, location and ticket-purchasing information for the concert, is what Internet users call a "Spam," junk or advertising mail sent out to a wide audience.

Many students on campus have expressed outrage over the letter, which they said is an abuse of Internet privileges.

"It is a horrible waste of resources," said Jeff C. Tarr '96, the former president of Digitas, a student technology organization. "I frown on it because it is bad e-mail etiquette."

Daniel A. Simon '99, a member of the Opportunes, has claimed responsibility for the mailing.

Simon said yesterday that he obtained the e-mail addresses of the sendees through a public directory.

The Canaday resident said he used his word processor to copy the addresses from the directory onto the letter document. Simon said he then inserted commas in the spaces between the names, and mailed the documents.

Simon said he is not sure how many students actually received the letter.

He added that he used a computer guide given to all first-years to figure out how to send the letter.

Sarah E. French '96, president of the Opportunes, said the mailing had been Simon's idea, but that the group endorsed his action.

Frank said the Callbacks and the Opportunes advertise both together and separately, but the Callbacks have not informed her that they disapprove of the message.

Administrators said the group has failed to comply with University policy on electronic communication.

"This is against Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) policy," said FAS Director of Computer Services Frank Steen. "The FAS has a policy not to allow mass mailings."

According to the Handbook for Students, "[electronic mail] messages...should not be sent as chain letters or 'broadcast' indiscriminately to large numbers of individuals."

Others expressed their concern that such mass mailings would limit the efficacy of the University's Internet mail system.

"These mass mailings are not a convenient way to send information. We are concerned that mass mailings can bring the system to its knees without much purpose," said Paul Martin, chair of the FAS Committee of Information Technology (CIT).

If large-scale mailings were to fill up Harvard's mail server, students and faculty would not be able to receive e-mail, according to Tarr.

Martin said that CIT was responsible for writing the policy but cannot take disciplinary actions for violations.

"Enforcement is left in the hands of the Administrative Board," he said.

Simon said he was unaware that his mailing might violate University policy.

"If I had ever thought it was in violation of FAS policy, I never would have done it," he said.

Student Response

While Simon said he has received mixed replies to the message, the response among many Internet users yesterday was negative.

"You get enough junk mail in your mailbox," said Anthony L. DeWitt '96. "If they want to advertise for a concert, they should just post for it."

In a "thread" on the usenet group, harvard.general, students debated the origin of the message and expressed their anger over the posting.

An unidentified individual scrawled in magic marker on the message board of Simon's Canaday dorm room door, "Immoral E-Mail Freak."

Simon said he was surprised by the extent of the response to his mailing.

"I don't frankly see what the big deal is. This is just the equivalent of postering on the Internet," he said

Frank said the Callbacks and the Opportunes advertise both together and separately, but the Callbacks have not informed her that they disapprove of the message.

Administrators said the group has failed to comply with University policy on electronic communication.

"This is against Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) policy," said FAS Director of Computer Services Frank Steen. "The FAS has a policy not to allow mass mailings."

According to the Handbook for Students, "[electronic mail] messages...should not be sent as chain letters or 'broadcast' indiscriminately to large numbers of individuals."

Others expressed their concern that such mass mailings would limit the efficacy of the University's Internet mail system.

"These mass mailings are not a convenient way to send information. We are concerned that mass mailings can bring the system to its knees without much purpose," said Paul Martin, chair of the FAS Committee of Information Technology (CIT).

If large-scale mailings were to fill up Harvard's mail server, students and faculty would not be able to receive e-mail, according to Tarr.

Martin said that CIT was responsible for writing the policy but cannot take disciplinary actions for violations.

"Enforcement is left in the hands of the Administrative Board," he said.

Simon said he was unaware that his mailing might violate University policy.

"If I had ever thought it was in violation of FAS policy, I never would have done it," he said.

Student Response

While Simon said he has received mixed replies to the message, the response among many Internet users yesterday was negative.

"You get enough junk mail in your mailbox," said Anthony L. DeWitt '96. "If they want to advertise for a concert, they should just post for it."

In a "thread" on the usenet group, harvard.general, students debated the origin of the message and expressed their anger over the posting.

An unidentified individual scrawled in magic marker on the message board of Simon's Canaday dorm room door, "Immoral E-Mail Freak."

Simon said he was surprised by the extent of the response to his mailing.

"I don't frankly see what the big deal is. This is just the equivalent of postering on the Internet," he said