Police Force Photographers To Leave Law School Protest

Harvard police ejected three Crimson photographers and one Boston Globe photographer from Griswold Hall as they were attempting to take pictures of a student sit-in there yesterday.

Several demonstrators with cameras were allowed to remain and police did not appear to make any efforts to prevent them from photographing the scene.

A police sergeant told a Crimson reporter that University rules prohibited the presence of cameras inside the Law School.

But University Police Chief Paul E. Johnson said his officers were acting on broad instructions from University officials. Johnson said Law School Vice-Dean David N. Smith had instructed him to "remove reporters" and all other members of the press from Griswold Hall.

Smith could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Although the Crimson photographers, all undergraduates, were physically removed from the Law School premises, the Boston Globe photographer was escorted out. Two of the Crimson photographers were removed without warning, but one was asked to leave and refused.

No reporters were actually asked to leave the Law School yesterday.

University Spokesperson Peter Costa said that sometimes photographers are ejected for safety reasons to reduce the number of people in the room or at the discretion of the administration.

Law School Spokesperson Michael J. Chmura said that the University's exclusion of press photographers did not interfere with the rights of the community to receive news about the protest.

"We feel that we are fulfilling that right," Chmura said.

Legal experts contacted by The Crimson questioned the decision to exclude photographers from the hall.

"I think they should allow cameras," Professor of Law Alan M. Dershowitz said. "They can pretty much do whatever they want."

Dershowitz said that the photographers could invoke the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, a state law which prevents both private and public entities from interfering with individual rights.

"There is no question that the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act does apply to universities. The question is, 'Does it apply to these situations?'" Dershowitz said.

Crimson President Rebecca L. Walkowitz '92 said the newspaper strongly objected to the restrictions on press coverage and may file complaints with appropriate University officials.

Vice President and General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54 said last night there may have been some confusion about media access to the Law School protest. He said he will look into the matter.

Keith O. Boykin, a spokesperson for the Law School protesters, said the school barred photographers in order to interfere with the dissemination of information about the protest.

"It means the administration is trying to hide some things. It prevents the campus from learning what's happening," Boykin said.