I would like to say a few things in response to Ms. Landry’s letter, “BU in denial about mail theft” (Jan 16th). First of all, it is so easy and cliched to criticize the mailroom. Having worked in the mailroom for more than a year now, I get it all the time. I also know how the mailroom works. The mail comes in, and we put it out. I have never seen, nor heard of anyone stealing mail. It just doesn’t happen. As stated by Mr. Robillard in January 13ths article, “Missing mail is an issue for families”, it is impossible to track a letter. Convinietly, I also have the experience of working in a Post Office Plant and Distribution Center, where they process more than three million pieces of mail each day. I’m sorry to say this, and I have seen it many times, but with all the mail that goes through there, many pieces get lost or destroyed in the machines. And finally, when a university is receiving mail for thousands of students, of course it would seem as though more pieces of mail are missing than at a single household that’s lost only “four or five pieces of mail in a lifetime”. Unfortunately, the Post Office is a monopoly because there is no other way to send a letter across the country for thirty-seven cents, and it’s something the American public just have to deal with. So next time, don’t be so quick to criticize something that you don’t understand.

Joe Weiskotten [email protected] (518) 312-3014 COM ’06 Tower’s Mailroom employee and former United States Postal Worker