An email distributed campus-wide on LSCStuAll Thursday morning violated the Vermont State College’s policy on solicitation, according to college officials.
Brian Martineau, Wheelock residence hall director and student activities coordinator, sent the email inviting students to a luncheon event sponsored and paid for by the Northeast Kingdom Democrats and the Vermont Democratic Party. The email subject line read, “CHECK THIS OUT TODAY!!!!!”
Martineau is new to the college, having just started his position this summer. Acting Dean of Students Jonathan Davis informed him of the violation via email.
“You have access to ‘lscstuall’ only for the weekly activities email,” Davis said in the email. “Anything else you want to send to that list must be approved by the ‘lscstuallfacilitators’ group or by me under very special circumstances.”
The LSCStuAll is an email list which very few employees of the college are authorized to use, and such use is strictly regulated. For example, emails regarding student-funded activities or important public safety information are allowed under the policy, but solicitations such as the one sent by Martineau are prohibited.
The Vermont State Colleges (VSC) Manual of Policy and Procedures states that the “VSCnet may not be used to send unsolicited advertising.” These email regulations apply to LSCStuAll, stating that, “Messages that violate our policies on solicitation … will be directed back to the sender with an explanation.”
But Davis acknowledged that Martineau’s inexperience likely led to the error.
“[Martineau is] new to the college,” Davis said, “and innocently accepted the request to share it with students.”
The “Compliance” section under the VSC’s “Computing and Telecommunications Technology Conditions of Use Policy,” state that, “Violations of this Policy by employees may lead to loss of VSCnet privileges and/or discipline up to and including termination. Any employee disciplinary action considered in association with this policy shall follow procedures set forth in the relevant employee collective bargaining agreement…”
Martineau did not return calls or a message left at his office seeking comment.