Campus mail service used in Lott campaign

ANDRIA MORGAN
DM Senior Staff Writer

Campus mail policy was violated last week when campaign literature for Sen. Trent Lott was sent to 817 faculty members and administration, said Jeff Alford, Director of Public Relations.

The postcard that was sent contained advertising of an off-campus reception for Senator Lott. Lott is running for U. S. Senate against Democrat Troy Brown.

Campus mail's sole purpose of operation is to send out "mail that is official University business," according to guidelines of campus mail.

"In all fairness, what was sent through campus mail was purely re-election material," Alford said. "The Ole Miss College Republicans are just associated with the candidate. Plus this event is not taking place on campus."

"This was a mistake because it deals with a campaign," Alford said.

The postcard was published by the Ole Miss College Republicans and was brought to Printing Services by President Howie Morgan. Printing Services placed address labels on the back of each postcard and sent it through to campus mail.

"We followed regulations and rules as we knew it," Morgan said. "It was understood by the Printing Services that we were following guidelines."

Alford said Printing Services is aware of the campus mail policy, but in most cases student organizations can send things through campus mail.

Alford said that student organizations sending mail through campus mail, "is not a written policy, it is more of a philosophy."

James Windham, associate director of purchasing and auxiliary purchases, said this mailing could have possibly been avoided.

"If everything had worked like it should, printing would have been asked to mail (the postcards) through the United States Postal Services."

Since a violation of campus mail has taken place, Alford says things might need to be handled differently in the future.

"We want to be a service to student organizations, so we can help them get their messages out there," Alford said, "but we're going to have to take another look at it now."

"If anyone who received this piece of mail on campus is offended, I apologize," Alford said.

The event was arranged by Ed Meek, Lafayette County Chair for Lott's campaign, and has said that this event is just to welcome Trent Lott but "it has an implication for being a campaign.

"It (the event) will certainly contribute to his campaign," Meek said. "At least, I hope it will."