"The next morning, the roommate picked an enormous fight," says Tabak. "He definitely read the e-mail."

Tabak said the student hypothesized that he had left his e-mail account open, and thus, his roommate was able to read it.

Leaving an e-mail account open can be a fairly frequent occurrence in dorms and fast-paced environments like Loker Commons.

"I'm sure I've left my e-mail account opened in the Science Center," says Micaela K. Root '00. "I guess anyone could have read it."

Accidentally leaving an account opened is just one of the ways in which curious eyes read private e-mail. But it once again invites the danger of having people falsify mail.

One member of the class of '97 had a bit of explaining to do after leaving his e-mail account open.

His roommate saw the open account and e-mailed his girlfriend of three years expressing his homosexuality.

Not surprisingly, his girlfriend was rather disturbed until she discovered the e-mail was a prank of the roommate.

So for those who wish to avoid long explanations to their significant others, remember one thing; despite the University's threat to punish those who break into other's accounts, it is best to listen to the advice of the omnipotent FAS when logging in--"Never give your password to ANYONE."

And of course, heed the lesser known advice of never leaving your e-mail account open in a public place.

Whether it is due to humorous or malicious intent, failed friendship or failed love, an open account or a known password, it is important to remember that e-mail is not as private as it may appear.