Although the letters were individuallyaddressed to each student, with their name and boxnumbers, Crimson Editor Andrew K. Sachs '97 saidthat "enough people got it that it didn't seemlike an invasion of privacy."

Matthew L. Bruce '96 agreed.`` He compromisedhis own privacy a lot more than anyone else's. Theletter no more violated my privacy than any otherjunk mail that I get."

In response to the highly negative stereotypingof gay men, Matthew A. Stewart '98 said, "It'sjust like any other stereotype; some people fitit, but some don't. It seems like he's had limitedexposure to gay people, and if his only way ofidentifying them is by using these stereotypes,it's only natural that he'd find people who fitthem,"

"Homosexuals by no means have a monopoly onthese negative traits," said Bruce.

But others felt that the letter betrayed morethan a lack of knowledge.

By sending this mass-mailed letter, the authoris "generating and propagating stereotypes aboutthe gay community," according to Carsey Yee, theAdams House designated tutor for gay and lesbianissues.

Yee began a discussion on harvard. generalabout the letter because, as he said. "This is acommon experience that many young Harvard men havehad, and there isn't enough discussion about thesethings."

The one question that all the recipients wantedto answer was how the author managed to get theiraddresses.

"I'm curious as to whether he had access toHarvard databanks," Yee said. "After all, thelabels were all printed. And if this person workedin some office with access to these databanks, orif he were a hacker, it would be very easy tobreak into them."

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III, who hadnot heard of the affair, was similarly concerned.

"My only concern is how he got hold of theaddresses," he said. "I would probably bring it tothe attention of the police. We do get quite a lotof strange mail, and I would prefer to have themevaluate it."

Most of those who received the letter said,whether it was a bizarre prank or a desperateappleal, they would chalk the episode up as astrange experience.

"People do a lot of crazy things in thepursuit, of love and happiness." Bruce noted