getpass() query

[tcs%usna.uucp at BRL-BMD.ARPA]

I've implemented the nu program recently posted and would like to
drive it from a shell script for adding and deleting large groups
of students.  Nu calls getpass() to read the password from the
terminal.  The manual says that if getpass cannot open /dev/tty,
it will read the standard input.  Since one must run nu as root,
/dev/tty is always opened.
Is there a way that I can make /dev/tty hidden enough that getpass
reads stdin?
Thanks,
	-tcs
	Terry Slattery	  U.S. Naval Academy	301-267-4413
	ARPA: tcs at brl-bmd     UUCP: decvax!brl-bmd!usna!tcs