It all exists on hard disks or backup tapes. There is no reason to think that the administration monitors e-mail or uses it inappropriately. However, administrations and historical circumstances change. This is not a legal issue. Court decisions make it quite clear that within reasonable limits the University as our employer can do what it wants with our e-mail.
Federal law gives greater protection to students.
Of course, we all have been warned not to consider e-mail private, and we should avoid writing anything that we would prefer not to be made public. Nonetheless, we believe that the University should adopt a policy that guarantees as much privacy as possible to faculty and staff. It was submitted for review to the General Counsel in September 1996. The General Counsel has not been willing to work towards a policy that confers reasonable protection. The policy should be vetted and adopted without delay.