Harassment Cases Detailed In Newly Released Report

A female graduate student describes an incident involving a male faculty member with direct authority over her: "I go to pick up the papers and was holding them in my hands--they were quite heavy. Suddenly his hands ran down my arms from both my shoulders to my hands, and I was immobilized."

A woman undergraduate reports being harassed by a male section leader, saying: "He would lease me when I stayed after class to ask a few questions, offering to trade answers to my questions for 'whatever I had to offer.'"

These two accounts are among the more dramatic of a sample of sexual harassment incidents at Harvard described in a University-sponsored survey released this week.

Among women in the report, 32 percent of senior faculty, 49 percent of junior faculty, 41 percent of graduate students and 34 percent of undergraduates reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment from a person in authority.

Although some were reported incidents of harassment, the report includes no detailed descriptions of specific incidents, most of which involved other men.

Few of those reporting harassment discussed the problem with a University official and almost none filed formal complaints.

Remarks from victims reveal that many are unsure what constitutes sexual harassment and are often reluctant to discuss an incident, because they fear reprisals or lack of concern.

Many said they did not report a situation, even when it interfered with their academic performance or was emotionally disturbing.

One female graduate student reported that, while attending a conference in another city, her advisor approached her in her hotel room late at night, asking that she return to his room and "go to bed."

The student writes, "As he was somewhat drunk and I wasn't interested. I refused several times pleading work to avoid a direct confrontation. He then threatened me that I go to bed 'or else...,' in which context I certainly took it is a professional/career threat. After some further delay, I realized I was quite scared by the threat (he is not a man noted for his kindness), so I spent the night with him."

The student adds that the incident seriously affected her work since she had to do research with the harasser, and that the professor pressured her for sexual favors on two other occasions.

A female undergraduate describes an inci- dent with her freshmen proctor whom she periodically consulted for advise. She reports: "Nearing the end of the first term he began to close the door when we'd talk-I didn't think much of it until one evening he more or less attacked me. Because of our friendship I tried to discuss the situation with him--he was cold to me after that evening and I stopped going to him for advice."

However, many of the described incidents were classified by the survey as less serious than these cases, because they did not involve explicit or persistent harassment, or had minimal impact on the victim.

This group of cases typically involves sexual jokes or suggestive looks. Many women were disturbed by a classroom atmosphere rather than a one-on-one incident.

One female undergraduate describes a male professor's teaching behavior: "He is insulting and constantly makes sexual comments which are inappropriate and unnecessary."

Most respondents who reported harassment said the situation was resolved when the course ended or the harasser left campus.

Those who approached a University official had mixed feelings about the advice they received.

One graduate student who reported being fondled by a professor said the two former professors she approached for advice were "not very helpful they advised avoiding him and not making [the situation] worse by bringing it out in the open."

Another graduate student who consulted a teaching fellow about a professor who was harassing her said the teaching fellow "blamed me as responsible."

Many victims said they did not report incident because it was not serious enough or they did not before anything could be done about the situation.

Under Harvard's existing procedures, undergraduates complaints are channeled to Assistant Dean of the College Marlyn M. Lewis '70 and the senior tutors.

Mother House Senior Tutor Stephen Epstein said yesterday he has never been approached about sexual harassment by a person in authority, adding that in light of the report, "statistically I should have seen plenty of people."

Epstein said he believed existing procedures are adequate, adding that more students will probably report problems since the survey has publicized the issue.

Christopher M. Jedrey Jr., senior tutor at Lowell House, agreed, saying the survey would emphasize to women that it is legitimate to report harassment complaints.

Jedrey said he has spoken with some undergraduates about sexual harassment complaints