Return to sender? Several students at McCormick Hall have complained of not receiving mail from family and friends.

Ami Janda, freshman in the College of Arts & Sciences, said she first noticed the problem when her father and boyfriend sent her items in the mail that she never received. Her father sent money and her boyfriend sent her a letter, Janda said.

"They were of a lot of sentimental value and I will never be able to replace them." Janda said. "I know they don't encourage you to send cash in the mail, but who doesn't?"

Janda suggested that the university needs to reform the way the mail is distributed.

Other students also expressed concern about mail they had not received.

Mary George, a freshman in the College of Health Sciences, said she noticed a problem during the first month of the school year. George said she did not receive two cards she was expecting.

A freshman in the College of Health Sciences did not want to give her name but said she too is missing mail.

"Last week was my birthday and two people said they sent cards, but I didn't get them," the freshman said.

However, the freshman said she has received mail late in the past and wanted to wait to be sure the mail was not just late again.

"If the mail is taking a while, I understand," the freshman said. "I don't really think it's a big deal unless mail doesn't show up at all."

Janda notified the Department of Public Safety about the problem last week and an investigation commenced, Janda said. The investigator for the mail problem at McCormick was not available for comment, but Capt. Russ Shaw, associate director of DPS, said the investigator had shed some light on the matter.

Shaw said an incident report was filed and DPS is talking to residents who have not received their mail to determine how severe the situation is. The investigation, currently in an early stage, may have to be turned over to postal inspectors if the missing mail persists, Shaw said. He said there are several known victims.

Rick Arcuri, associate dean of the Office of Residence Life, said he is aware of the problem and a list has been placed in the McCormick mailroom for people to sign if they have not received mail they were expecting to.

Arcuri said there is a plan to recover the missing items and is working with postal employees. The mail goes through a lot of hands and a lot of systems before it is given to the recipient, so there are many things that could happen between the mail being sent and being received, he said. Arcuri said DPS will continue the investigation.

"I'm confident Public Safety is good at this and we will find out who is doing it and put an end to it," Arcuri said.