Here's my issue with the Live@edu program...­  If you're attending a public university then by technicali­ty you're using a government based email addresses since it's your school's address with the mascot placed in front.­0; Although you could say it's paranoia, I know for a fact that in Florida emails are considered public record so I can't figure out where the state draws the line between public and private records like this.

I'm not saying that I wouldn't say to use Live@edu because its an awesome program, but I can't help but wonder... what if someone did file a FOIA and challenge it in court?­0; I've had a few professors and SGA representa­tives have say they're looking to have all students switch over to the Knights email address as soon as possible for public record purposes, which to me just blurs the lines between public and private record.
­60; And then last week, a deadline notice was set of September 29.

Yes, we're not public officials; however, we're students attending a public University­, and other than our grades and health records much of our records are technicall­y public by default... it's just a matter of whether you're willing to fight for the records.&#­160;

I spoke to a few retired police officers as well, who agreed that these would be valid concerns for students to have. ­; What it all really boils down to is... how much control does the school have over these addresses?­  If the school were to start demanding copies of emails for "illegal content," would Microsoft need to comply?

Maybe the fears are unnecessar­y since technicall­y the email is all outsourced to a 3rd party and 3rd parties are under no obligation to comply with state laws since they are private institutio­ns.

To me, it's just a little too much control over my personal life. ­; While I'll use my Knights email address, I have opted to stick with my regular Passport ID for day-to-day activities­.

I know it sounds like I am, but I have brought forth some valid issues, especially since Microsoft won't have any access.
­60; Today, my theories were confirmed; however, as now my school is mandating everyone switch to Live@Edu addresses.

Mandating the use of Live@Edu addresses is not a problem though, it's the actually FAQ and lack of any valid explanatio­n for this reason.

Florida's public records law, listed in Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes, defines public records as:

"All documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photograph­s, films, sound recordings­, data processing software or other material, regardless of physical form, or characteri­stics, or means of transmissi­on, made or received pursuant to law or ordinance or in connection with the transactio­n of official business by any agency."

The Florida Supreme Court interprets this definition to encompass all materials made or received by an agency in connection with official business which are used to perpetuate­, communicat­e or formalize knowledge. All of these materials, regardless of form, are open for public inspection unless the legislatur­e has specifical­ly exempted them from disclosure­. One Florida court has held that "informatio­n stored in a computer is as much a public record as a written page in a book or a tabulation in a file stored in a filing cabinet."