October 15, 2008
If Vice Chancellor Didn't Send E-Mail Message Endorsing Obama, Who Did?
Where a top administrator seems to endorse a presidential candidate in an e-mail message to students and then denies having sent that message, suspicions of hacking follow.
Elizabeth City State University, in North Carolina, is investigating “the possibility of an unauthorized use” of its e-mail account for Jean M. Sims, vice chancellor of human resources and payroll, according to a written statement from the chancellor, Willie J. Gilchrist.
The Daily Advance, a local newspaper, reported that a message appeared to have been sent from Ms. Sims’s account on September 16 urging students to support Sen. Barack Obama for president. “If you can’t register two voters, talk to two people who may be on the fence, or a McCain supporter, and sway them to become an Obama supporter,” the Advance quotes the e-mail message as saying. “Barack the vote!”
Ms. Sims has denied sending the message.
“Elizabeth City State University does not endorse any particular candidate running for public office,” said the chancellor. “There was no official effort sponsored by the university to promote a candidate.”
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign conducted a similar investigation last month when someone sent an e-mail message criticizing fraternities and sororities to every account at the institution. The message appeared to have come from the university’s chancellor. —Sara Lipka
Posted on Wednesday October 15, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Whatever it takes to get Obama elected—lies, deceit, trickery. It’s all good.
— Elaine Oct 16, 09:41 AM #
Elaine must be a McCain supporter to say such a silly nasty thing.
This story doesn’t say much for IT security at this campus.
— Mervyn Emrys Oct 16, 09:45 AM #
Maya Angelou
— Oprah Oct 16, 09:46 AM #
Mervyn,
Have you seen or heard the tapes of ACORN (a publicly funded, supposedly non-partisan organization) workers during their “get out the vote” efforts as they tell the people they are registering to vote for Obama?
I agree that IT security must be lax at Elizabeth City State. Given that, someone did post the message, and it was fraudulent (since I can’t believe the vice chancellor would be foolish enough to actually send it herself) and it was decietful. It also was aimed at helping Obama. It’s consistent with the ACORN “get out the vote” efforts, along with many other pro-Obama activities. So, what’s wrong with Elaine’s comment?
— FB Oct 16, 10:33 AM #
What’s wrong with Elaine’s comment? The assumption that if, excuse me, when Obama wins it will only be because of lies, deceit, trickery. How offensive.
— DJ Oct 16, 11:29 AM #
Whoever said there are no Republicans in academia sure as $*()#($*#() never hung out on Chronicle of Higher Ed — and you know what, they’re just as scary inside academia as they are on the outside.
Just once, I’d like to read a thoughtful defense of their candidate instead of backbiting venom, post after post.
— Kathy Oct 16, 11:48 AM #
While Obama is very intelligent and charming, does he really have the experience to become President of the largest economy on Earth?
— Armando Oct 16, 01:59 PM #
DJ,
If ACORN is doing what they’ve reportedly been doing, then it’s not an assumption.
— FB Oct 16, 03:49 PM #
99% of white supremacists and neo Nazis vote Republican. There has to be a reason why. You see it in their vile comments about decent people on these boards. They demonize the helpless like schoolyard bullies. Republicans are, quite simply, the party of hate.
— My Soap Opera Oct 16, 05:38 PM #
My Soap Opera, I totally agree. All one needs to do is look at the lack of diversity in the faces of the crowds following McCain and Palin to understand that.
— Ginger B. Oct 16, 07:16 PM #
So, your demonization of Republicans as “neo Nazis,” “white supremacists” and “schoolyard bullies” is OK? So, because you think the Democrats are enlightened and Republicans are not, it’s OK to tacitly accept voter fraud, as long as it gets your candidate elected? Give me a break.
The lack of “diversity” at Republican rallies is your choice. No one is barred from entry. If you believe in free enterprise, the sanctity of life, and personal responsibility for your own actions, you are welcome, regardless of skin color, race or religion. All are welcome.
— FB Oct 16, 09:11 PM #
Sounds like they’ve been obama’d.
Hey, if people are thirsty enough for change, they’ll drink the sand.
— unabashed male Oct 17, 10:28 AM #
Sadly, the right wing comments posted on the Chronicle’s blogs are no different from those posted in Craigslist’s Rants and Raves sections; the message is still one of dispersions, innuendo and deceit.
— J Oct 20, 01:22 PM #