Sometimes, contacting everyone can be as easy as one click. For many MSMS students, mass emails are simply a part of life. Whether being used to announce competitions, club meetings, community service opportunities or a myriad of other things, mass emails stand out as a simple and efficient way to communicate with everyone. However, there seems to be confusion over what should or should not be sent via mass email, and many are starting to feel frustrated.

The student handbook states that “Mass e-mail may only be used to communicate lost and found items, the need for a ride home, setting up study groups, advertising MSMS fundraisers and student activities, or announcing competition winnings.” While many tend to stay within the rules, exceptions still pop up. Take, for example, an email sent by a student on August 17 that simply says “milk ?” in the subject line and contains no text. While definitely preposterous, this email could be considered a Level 2 offense since it does not contain proper subject matter.

Another recent example is that of “Merica Monday”. Started by junior Sam Matrisciano, who got the idea from a camp she works for, the first “Merica Monday” email was sent on August 14 and was not well received by some students. “I think it (Merica Monday) is pretty ridiculous honestly,” said senior Sam Williams. “I thought it would die out almost immediately, but then it didn’t, so I just got progressively more annoyed at the emails and the concept.” Matrisciano, however, continued on despite the backlash, saying that “I had enough positive responses that I thought I should continue.” This eventually led to a 9-email thread on Sunday, August 28th, as arguments and debates ensued over this seemingly minor topic.

While “Merica Monday” is an extreme example, and Matrisciano is taking steps to make it more legitimate, the story shows that students can frequently be annoyed or feel burdened with these mass emails. The story can also serve as a reminder to try and stay within the guidelines. While some rule breaking is inevitable at any school, that does not mean one should pointlessly pester all students. It can be hard to find the balance between mild annoyance and major debate starter, but it can be even harder to try and take any of it back.