Quad mail problems deemed not U.'s fault

The mail that arrived opened at the Quadrangle last week was damaged by human hands, U.S. Postal Inspector Charles McManus confirmed yesterday. And employees of the 30th Street Post Office may be responsible, said McManus, the leader of the Philadelphia post office's Internal Crimes team. Last week, Residential Living obtained 76 pieces of mail that had been opened before arriving in the Quadrangle mail room, according to Residential Living Director Gigi Simeone. In addition, a pile of priority mail packages was discovered unattended and unsecured outside the Quad mail room Saturday. The Residential Living office has also received numerous complaints from parents and students regarding mail that never reached its recipients, Simeone said. Simeone gave the damaged mail immediately to U.S. postal inspectors on Friday. "Based upon what I saw, someone was getting into it," McManus said, adding that the inspectors are now investigating to determine who may have committed the federal offense. McManus said the majority of envelopes were greeting card-style -- indicating that the perpetrator was looking for money. "The people or person getting into the mail is obviously not interested in love letters," he said. He added that he thinks whoever was responsible was specifically looking for mail going to University students. Through examining the bar codes and other markings on the envelopes, postal inspectors can determine in what section of the post office the mail was handled and who may have been responsible for it. Simeone expressed satisfaction with the progress that the post office is making on the University's case. "They're working very cooperatively and I am delighted," she said. The maximum sentence for tampering with mail is five years and $1,000 for each count, McManus said. He added, however, that he has never seen a maximum sentence given for these crimes. McManus said that besides catching the perpetrator, the post office cannot do anything to solve the ongoing mail problems that have gone on since 1993. "It's a shame, but based on the population they have here -- and that it's a city --Eyou're going to have people prone to theft," McManus said. But Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said he hopes for a stronger commitment and "aggressive" action from the post office. Simeone said there are various actions the University can take both proactively and reactively, including encouraging parents to send valuables by certified or registered mail. "And we are very vigilant about our own mail procedures so what we can do is to be very, very active within our own shop and to report to the post office whenever there are problems," she added. McManus stressed that parents should not send cash through the mail. Moneta added that greeting card envelopes should be avoided -- even when sending greeting cards. Residential Living representatives will be in the Stouffer Dining Commons lobby this afternoon to speak with any students who have had mail problems or who have questions and concerns. Simeone and Moneta also plan to meet with post office officials in the very near future.