FC: New spam trend: Racist bulk email at NYU business school

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

---     

From: "Suresh Ramasubramanian" <suresh () hserus net>
To: "Declan McCullagh" <declan () well com>
Subject: Fw: Media: Racist spam at NYU Biz school
Date: Tue, 6 May 2003 18:52:51 +0530

> http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/81111p-74369c.html
>
> Hate-filled E-mails targeting African-Americans, Arabs and Muslims
> flooded the inboxes of undergraduate students during a recent hacking
> spree at NYU's Stern School of Business.
> More than 100 messages were sent to the school's 1,600 students. Many
> used the N-word liberally and included lengthy arguments in support of
> stereotypes.
>
> "It was inexcusable stuff," said Andrea Clarke, 20, a senior in
> Stern's undergraduate program. "A lot of students were very offended
> and concerned."
>
> Campus officials said they will turn over their evidence to local or
> federal authorities.
>
> NYU President John Sexton promised in a memo yesterday to "vigorously"
> pursue an investigation.
>
> "While the spirit and intent of these vile messages was to hurt and
> disrespect specific groups represented within our community,
> sentiments such as those expressed in these E-mails caused anger and
> pain for every thoughtful reader," Sexton said.
>
> The unknown perpetrator, who used the E-mail name "joecool781," is
> thought to be affiliated with the campus.
>
> "One E-mail said minority groups were hurting the school," said Jeff
> Galak, 20, a sophomore. "My guess is that it was a Stern student
> sending them."
>
> At least one message was sent using a Hotmail account and a public
> access computer on the campus, officials said.
>
> "I can't tell you how somebody who was off the campus came to know
> about this ability to send mass mailings to our undergraduates," said
> NYU spokesman John Beckman.
>
> He said the unauthorized campaign began about April 22 and ended April
> 30.
>
> He said the perpetrator found a way to exploit an internal mailing
> feature that allows administrators to send broadcast message to
> students.
[...]
--
Suresh Ramasubramanian + mallet @ blackehlo.cluestick.org
EMail Sturmbannfuehrer + Lower Middle Class Unix Sysadmin




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