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Vulgar e-mail sent to UA TA over Listserv

A UA teaching assistant said she received a vulgar e-mail through a class Listserv last Wednesday, probably after one of her students did not log off a public computer.

The women's studies graduate teaching assistant, who asked to not be identified for safety concerns, said about 50 students received the e-mail.

"At this time, to the best of our knowledge it was not sent by a student of our class," the teaching assistant said. "At this time it appears it was somebody playing a malicious prank."

The e-mail, which was dated March 10, stated, "Hey you fucking assholes why don't you take your fucking Listserv and shove it up your fucking pussies. I hate UofA. Especially my teacher, my teacher is a fucking bitch. I hate all of your bullshit assholes trying to sound smart and shit. Oh yeah, and one more thing, Fuck all of you. P.S. Eat a dick Biaaaaach," according to University of Arizona Police Department reports.

UAPD officer Jason Hyland, who handled the case, said even though the e-mail was vulgar it was not a criminal violation.

"My interpretation of the e-mail that was sent - there was no direct threat," Hyland said. "I didn't really feel there was a criminal violation."

Hyland said he has not handled a similar case before and did not think teachers receiving vulgar or threatening e-mails was common. He referred the case to the Dean of Students office.

Veda Hunn, associate dean of students, said she could not comment at all about this case.

But Hunn said she "frequently" receives cases regarding "misuse of e-mail accounts, (and) appropriate Listservs."

She said the consequence of a threat can range from a warning to expulsion. She said she could not specify if either of those incidents have occurred.

Hunn said students who are accused of threatening another person are given the opportunity to explain the incident and provide evidence in their behalf.

She added offensive language is not a UA code of conduct violation because it is protected by free speech.

Sgt. Michael Smith, UAPD spokesman, said students receive threatening e-mails more often than faculty, but the incidents do not occur that often.

"The ones that we come across are students but its not an epidemic proportion," Smith said.

The teaching assistant said some students in the class were upset when they read the e-mail.

She said the classroom location has been changed, which made some students feel safer.

"A number of students felt like that was an appropriate action," she said.

She planned for the class to discuss the e-mail when they met yesterday.

The teaching assistant said she has never received an e-mail of this nature before.

She said while she thinks the vulgarity of the e-mail is uncommon, she does not think it is uncommon for passerby to gain access to another student's account and use it.