<p>tenisghs, uc_benz didn't imply that you don't know what you're saying. He simply gave a more technical explanation of how mail servers work. </p>
<p>Each student has an electronic "mailbox" where mail collects until you pick it up. The name of that mailbox is assigned, and cannot be changed by the student. It looks something like this: <a href="mailto:netid@lulu.it.northwestern.edu">netid@lulu.it.northwestern.edu</a> </p>
<p>Each student also has an "alias", which directs mail to the student's mailbox. Although the alias is assigned to start with, the student can change the part of the alias in front of the @ sign. The original assigned alias might look something like this: <a href="mailto:student-name@northwestern.edu">student-name@northwestern.edu</a></p>
<p>What uc_benz said is accurate according to the NUIT email page. What you said is fine too, since you use your alias instead of your mailbox name. If anybody is confused about this, you can go to the NUIT email page and click on "Change E-mail Address". There you can log in and see all your email information.</p>
<p>I don't know how being an upperclassman instantly qualifies you to be an expert on the technical aspects of e-mail servers. But whatever.</p>
<p>nan further clarified my explanation. Let me give a simple example: There was a man who wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (among other books). His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens; however he is known as Mark Twain. Whether he likes it or not Samuel Langhorne Clemens will always be his real name, and he can do nothing about it. But he gives out Mark Twain (or any name he wants) to people reading his books because he obviously likes that name better. But if you talk or send something to "Mark Twain" it will always go to Samuel Langhorne Clemens because Mark Twain is nothing.</p>
<p>Concerning the e-mail addresses, the "<a href="mailto:netid@server.it.northwestern.edu">netid@server.it.northwestern.edu</a>" is the REAL name (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) while the "<a href="mailto:name@northwestern.edu">name@northwestern.edu</a>" is the pseudonym (Mark Twain). Whether the person who is sending you e-mails thinks it is going to your shortened address or the longer address with the server, it ALWAYS goes to the longer address with the server because that is where you view your e-mails.</p>
<p>Like I said, whenever I have interviews or other important appointments, I NEVER give out "<a href="mailto:studentname@merle.it.northwestern.edu">studentname@merle.it.northwestern.edu</a>." No. It's just simply "<a href="mailto:studentname@northwestern.edu">studentname@northwestern.edu</a>." Don't make it more complicated than it really is, UC_benz and nan. As a matter of fact, I never changed my email address when Northwestern told me my server. ** They change it automatically to the shortened version for incoming students. **</p>
<p>And believe me, Uc_benz, as a current student, I know more about Northwestern with nearly two years of experience than from someone who is just an incoming freshman.</p>
<p>I wasn't talking about Northwestern in general. I sure would hope you know more about Northwestern than me considering I've only spent 3 days there in my entire life. However, this is about e-mail, the Internet, and servers. </p>
<p>Even though you might only give out your alias it is important to know your server because you have to select which server you are on in the Webmail utility. And also in Webmail you have to change a setting when you are writing to someone otherwise it will name your "<a href="mailto:netid@server.it.northwestern.edu">netid@server.it.northwestern.edu</a>" address as the sender.</p>
<p>My goodness. How did this turn into a question of who knows more about NU? Someone asked a technical question. I respect tenisgh for all the information she brings to this board, but I also respect anybody who wants to know something more, or has additional information to offer. I'm sure it's perfectly possible to graduate from NU without knowing how mail servers work. I'm sure there are many students who don't want or need to know this information. However, for some people, knowing how to change their email alias is important. What's wrong with that? </p>
<p>If it were possible for one person to know all there is to know about NU, it would be a boring place, and we wouldn't need boards like this. It's possible to be confident about ones knowledge, and still respect someone else's knowledge and curiosity.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of redirecting all my mail to another server. For example, to my old Yahoo account. It would be more secure and convenient. I guess there'll be things I won't like with NU's mail interface. I'm already oppressed by that deep purple all over NU's website :)</p>