Israel's Job Revoked Following SDS Sit-In

The Harvard Personnel Office has suspended SDS leader Jared Israel '67 from his job in the Harkness Common kitchens because he had participated in an obstructive sit-in in University Hall earlier this week.

Dean May said yesterday that he had filed a complaint about Israel with the Personnel Office. "I laid information before the Personnel Office that he had engaged in conduct that was in violation of the Declaration of Rights and Responsibilities of the Faculty," he said.

The Faculty Resolution on Rights and Responsibilities condemns as "unacceptable" any "forcible interference with freedom of movement of any member or guest of the University."

Dean May said that, since Israel is no longer a student, the Committee on Rights and Responsibilities will not decide his case. The Committee will, however, investigate the sit-in. The Personnel Office will then act on the Committee's findings about Israel.

Hereby Suspended

David L. Laughlin, Manager of Harkness Commons, informed Israel yesterday morning that he had been suspended. He said in a letter to Israel: "A report has been received that you took part in the sit-in in University Hall on November 19, 1969, and did not leave the building when instructed to do so by Dean Ernest May. You are hereby suspended pending an investigation of this report."

Laughlin was unavailable for comment yesterday. The director and associate director of the Personnel Office were out of town and also unavailable for comment.

Israel said that he had received no complaints about his work at Harkness, where he has been a kitchen helper since September.

Example

"While they're investigating, they've suspended me, which they didn't do to any of the students," Israel said. "What they're doing to me is an example of what we're fighting about-workers are harassed."

-The sit-in on Wednesday was in protest of the University's hiring practices, especially of painters and painters' helpers.

Dean May said that he will only be the complainant and will not be involved in the decision of Israel's case. He said that the decision will rest with the Personnel Office.

"As I've tried to point out in the issue of painters' helpers, I do not make decisions about employees," he said.