Guards Angered by Connors' Comments

Several University security guards criticized acting General Counsel Frank J. Connors this week for comments he made last month regarding the racial controversy in the Harvard Police Department.

Connors was responding to allegations made last spring that security supervisors had harassed guards, telling The Crimson that some of these guards were using racial discrimination as a "crutch."

Connors also said he knew of no racism or communication problem in the guard unit, and asked guards to bring any complaints they might have to him.

Several guards interviewed this week said they were particularly upset by Connors's "crutch" comment. Some said it was representative of the University's inadequate and insensitive response to their complaints.

Pierre R. Voss, a Black guard who was the first to charge harassment, said he only went public with charges of discrimination after the University and Police Chief Paul E. Johnson responded inadequately to his complaint. Johnson has denied that allegation.

"If he [Connors] is so sure we're using this as a crutch, why doesn't he investigate?" said Voss, who had initially feared retaliation for his comments of last spring. "At the time of the story, I was on disability and my job was not in danger."

Steven Thompson, a Black guard who charged last spring that supervisors discriminate when handing out punishment, said last night he believed Connors's statement was intended to deflect attention from the problems in the security department.

"I don't know what makes Harvard think it's got perfect people," Thompson said. "[The racism] is something they're going to have to deal with sooner or later."

Thompson also said that some guards in the past may have used discrimination as a crutch, but he said thatthis should not preclude the University frominvestigating such claims. He said he believedHarvard's investigations of the guard unit hadbeen inadequate.

Connors said yesterday he stood by the commentshe made last month. He reiterated his call forguards with complaints to approach him or Johnson.

And, expanding on last month's comments,Connors said he was troubled by guards who were"impugning" their supervisors in the press ratherthan taking their complaints to Universityofficials.

He said he was concerned that securitysupervisor Donald P. Behenna and Manager ofOperations for Security Robert J. Dowling arebeing "tarred-and-feathered" in the pages of TheCrimson.

Last spring, seven former and current minorityguards said they were harassed by supervisors.University officials--including Johnson, formerUniversity Attorney Diane Patrick, former GeneralCounsel Daniel Steiner '54 and Dowling--deniedthat harassment had occurred.

Last week, a Black student at the GraduateSchool of Education said she was harassed byBehenna. Responding to the charge, Johnson saidBehenna was "retrained." Behenna refused tocomment on the matter.

An investigation of the racial incidentsconducted by the general counsel's office in thespring found no wrongdoing by the supervisors. Butseveral guards claimed the University botched theinquiry by failing to interview them.

Connors also said yesterday that if guards wereuncomfortable with approaching him, they shouldcall Patrick, who is Black. Patrick, currentlydirector of Human Resources, conducted theUniversity's investigation of the guard unit lastspring

Connors said yesterday he stood by the commentshe made last month. He reiterated his call forguards with complaints to approach him or Johnson.

And, expanding on last month's comments,Connors said he was troubled by guards who were"impugning" their supervisors in the press ratherthan taking their complaints to Universityofficials.

He said he was concerned that securitysupervisor Donald P. Behenna and Manager ofOperations for Security Robert J. Dowling arebeing "tarred-and-feathered" in the pages of TheCrimson.

Last spring, seven former and current minorityguards said they were harassed by supervisors.University officials--including Johnson, formerUniversity Attorney Diane Patrick, former GeneralCounsel Daniel Steiner '54 and Dowling--deniedthat harassment had occurred.

Last week, a Black student at the GraduateSchool of Education said she was harassed byBehenna. Responding to the charge, Johnson saidBehenna was "retrained." Behenna refused tocomment on the matter.

An investigation of the racial incidentsconducted by the general counsel's office in thespring found no wrongdoing by the supervisors. Butseveral guards claimed the University botched theinquiry by failing to interview them.

Connors also said yesterday that if guards wereuncomfortable with approaching him, they shouldcall Patrick, who is Black. Patrick, currentlydirector of Human Resources, conducted theUniversity's investigation of the guard unit lastspring