Whatever the TS's reasons, he's correct to forward the info to the uni's sysadmin, as such an email is in breach of the conditions of use of the unis' IT facilities. These conditions of use are somewhat stricter than the usual service providers. To extract from one such IT policy as an example:
"The following are PROHIBITED on the computer facilities:While some here may see it as somewhat trivial to pursue the matter, such poor net behaviour reflects badly on the institution and may also indicate a wider pattern of abuse. Consider some what-ifs:
...
The transmission, display or broadcasting of electronic messages or the use the computer facilities in any manner:
- to denigrate, satirise, degrade or defame any person, family, organisation, nation, race, community, political or religious group;
..."
- What if the sender has been sending such emails out to other people as well?
- What if some of those folks are overseas, and they trace it and see that it's from Singapore and from one of our institutions of higher learning?
- What if the sender crossed the line into racist or other more insiduous comments? It's a thin line before such remarks become actionable under the Racial Harmony Act, for example.
- What if the return phone number is real and goes to some third party? The sender would then be either impersonating and/or defaming that third party.
WHAT! Biggest pot of crock I read today!