The publisher of an alumni directory and Sacramento State?s alumni association said that their use of the school?s seal, letterhead and policies regarding graduate information are widely used business practices, but some alums aren?t buying it.

The letter, as reported in The State Hornet, uses the Sac State logo and letterhead to solicit information for an alumni directory that is later offered for sale.

Some alumni understood the letter as a request for permission to use their information in the directory. They were surprised to learn they are already in the directory and the letter was just a request for corrected information.

“Definitely, I think it?s misleading,” Mohamed Hamada, Associated Students, Inc. postbaccalaureate director said. “You walk in as a freshman and you expect to have your records kept private. Unfortunately, that?s not the case.”

Harris Publishing uses the “opt out” method in compiling its directories. Graduating students are already included unless they give formal notice that they don?t want to be on the list.

Neither the alumni letter nor Harris Publishing?s Internet Webpage has any mention of where or how to send the notice.

Instead, a phone number and e-mail address are included in the company?s privacy policy accessed by clicking the “privacy” button at the bottom of the company?s webpage.

“Unfortunately, that?s just how we operate,” said Becky, a Harris Publishing employee who declined to give her last name.

“We use the opt out system due to logistics,” said Bill Harris, president of the company. “It would take far too long to process individual permissions.”

Gary T. McFarland, a Sac State alumnus currently serving as University Computer Lab Manager Emeritus doesn?t agree with the opt-out policy.

“A significant number of people choose to not list their private address and phone number in public directories. Some do so because they generally choose to protect their privacy as much as possible,” he said.

Harris Publishing Group, in business since 1963, is the largest directory publishing company in the world.

Their privacy policy, including opt-out information can be found at: http://www.bcharrispub.com/privacy.html.

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