By Jon Gambrell
The Cincinnati Enquirer

OXFORD - A Miami University student has been charged with sending a hoax e-mail to faculty and students on Wednesday night claiming classes would be canceled on Thursday - which was Green Beer Day.

Field

Benjamin Field, a 22-year-old computer science major from Salem, Ohio, was arrested after university and Oxford police served a search warrant on his South College Avenue apartment Friday.

Police said Field used a laptop computer at the apartment to send about 31,000 e-mails posing as Miami President James C. Garland, canceling classes for Thursday. Green Beer Day, usually the last Thursday before Spring Break, is a tradition at Miami in which bars open early and some students drink all day.

During their search, Oxford police also found a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Field was charged with unauthorized use of a computer, a fifth-degree felony, and two misdemeanor drug offenses.

"I think what students need to understand is that what may appear to be a practical joke or a hoax may have consequences beyond their imagination," said Miami University Police Chief Cathryn House.

Richard Little, senior director of communications for the university, said that by using a "digital fingerprint," university technicians were able to track the e-mail to its source.

The method used was similar to those used by spam e-mailers. An automated program searched through Miami's Internet-based listing of all e-mail addresses within the university, and sent the fake message to every address it found.

Little said the university is forming a task force to address the issues raised by the hoax.

On Wednesday, university officials almost immediately posted a message on the university homepage noting that the class cancellation e-mail was a hoax.

In an e-mail sent to all Miami students, Little assured them that any university closings would be well-publicized and suggested students corroborate information they receive from the Internet.

Little said that Field would also face possible disciplinary action from university, which could mean a dismissal for the senior.

Field had no comment on the accusations or his arrest.

He is scheduled to appear in Butler County Area One Court on March 13.