Response to "Students receive e-mail..."

I was greatly disappointed upon visiting the Collegian website, and finding what many reasonable observers would consider to be a blatant misuse of university property and unethical behavior by a university employee ("Students receive politically charged e-mail from employee," Nov. 4, 2010).

Not only is it highly deceptive for a university employee to spread propaganda to students with a veneer of school approval, but it totally opposes to the values of a liberal arts education. Imposing your political beliefs on others while potentially having access to their private academic records is unethical.

Promoting specific political views to students, while denigrating and insulting other views, is nothing short of intellectual bullying at best, and a raw exercise of power at worst.

Do members of the University of Richmond community feel that their tuition dollars and generous contributions are well-spent when a university employee uses university property to circulate hateful, politically-charged e-mails to nearly 500 students?

One expects personal biases to be checked at the door, in this particular work environment. And lastly, the question of judgment becomes an issue.

Does the university intend to hire employees who will so carelessly allow their personal biases to negatively impact their professional work?

We must be very careful with the professional lapses that are considered to fall within the acceptable range of errors to be made on the job. The university must examine whether this lapse falls within the acceptable range, and act on that conclusion.

In addition, the university must offer its sincere assurance that it does not consider viewers of Glenn Beck, supporters of Sharron Angle or readers of Sarah Palin to be violent. This is the only fair way to move forward from this unfortunate incident.