Probing Williams' Probation

Crimson defensive tackle Greg Williams will be back in uniform this weekend. But make no mistake about it, he's still on disciplinary probation.

In January, Williams' roommate and teammate, Jack Patterson, made a racist phone call to a Black attendant at the Currier House bells desk. Williams followed up Patterson's call with a non-racist but harrassing call of his own.

The Currier House attendant had already been the victim of a physical attack: four students shattered the Currier House window. Patterson and Williams were not connected with this physical attack, but they had seen the results.

Greg Williams will be back in uniform this weekend. But make no mistake about it, he's still on disciplinary probation.

Last week, Patterson was required to withdraw from Harvard for a year So were the four students who shattered the window. Williams was put on disciplinary probation, a punishment that carried with it, for Williams, a terrible clause: no football.

When making their decision, members of the Ad Board were well aware of what the clause meant. For Williams, the disciplinary probation sentence boiled down to one and only one thing: no football.

Williams would have a long time to think about what he had done--from the stands, not the field.

Greg Williams will be back in uniform this weekend. But make no mistake about it, he's still on disciplinary probation.

Tuesday, Williams appealed to the Ad Board, hoping to regain his playing status. He said he could "contribute more to the community" by playing football. The Ad Board agreed. Williams was reinstated.

What, then, is Williams' punishment? What, then, can future victims of harrassment expect the Ad Board to do to those who harrass?

Well, put them on disciplinary probation. For Williams, this now amounts to the equivalent of facing a 100-lb. guard across the line of scrimmage--a slap on the helmet and nothing more.

Greg Williams will be back in uniform this weekend. But make no mistake about it, he's still on disciplinary probation.

Punishment is nearly always unproductive. It helps neither the punished nor the punishing, the perpetrator nor the victim.

Patterson will be gone from Harvard for a year. Who benefits? The Black attendant? Patterson? The community?

Williams is a senior. He will remember this season, his last season, for the rest of his life. Had he been forced to sit out this season, it would have been very sad.

Williams did something foolish, something irresponsible--something wrong. He deserves some kind of discipline. But forcing him to sit out a football season, his final football season, was probably not the proper punishment. Williams would have had bitter feelings for the rest of his life.

The Ad Board could have been constructive in its decision. If Williams truly wants to help the "community," playing football is not the way to do it. The Ad Board could have given Williams a choice--either spend 10 hours a week doing community service, like working with inner-city Black youth, or miss the football season.

As it stands, Williams just has to be careful he doesn't make a mistake again. No more phone calls. Or else.

Greg Williams will be back in uniform this weekend. But make no mistake about it, he's still on disciplinary probation. Whatever that means.