Guard Reportedly Charged Behenna With Mistreatment

A University security guard has charged that his supervisor berated him and repeatedly poked him in the chest last month, according to sources in the police and security department.

The charge, allegedly made in a letter sent to Police Chief Paul E. Johnson, is the latest of a series of accusations against Donald P. Behenna, who had previously been cleared of charges that he harassed other security guards because of their race.

Martin has alleged that Behenna assaulted him on October 30 while the guard was standing next to Behenna's desk in the security office. Both Martin and Behenna are white.

Martin, however, has declined to comment on the incident or the letter. Behenna has refused to answer any questions from The Crimson. Johnson did not return repeated phone calls yesterday.

The sources said Martin was checking off his name on the daily attendance log, which had been placed on Behenna's desk, when the supervisor entered the room.

Behenna then poked Martin several times and yelled that the guard should "stay the hell away from my desk" as several guards looked on, sources said. Sources also said that when Martin responded calmly to the supervisor, Behenna continued yelling.

"It was an eruption," said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "It shocked everyone who was there. From the way he raised his voice, I would have thought the supervisor wanted to fight."

Some sources said that it was unusual for a guard to be writing in the attendance log, which is kept by supervisors. One source said he believed that Behenna had personal items on his desk that he did not want touched.

The disclosure of Martin's allegation comes during General Counsel Margaret H. Marshall's first week on the job. Last month, President Neil L. Rudenstine said he would ask Marshall to reopen a University investigation into charges of harassment in the unit.

Last spring, three former and current minorityguards said Behenna harassed them because of theirrace. And last month, Frances C. Ugwuegbu, a Blackstudent at the Graduate School of Education, saidshe was verbally abused by the supervisor when sheworked as a dispatcher for the escort service inan incident she termed "definitely racial."

University officials--including Johnson, formerGeneral Counsel Daniel Steiner '54, Director ofHuman Resources Diane Patrick and Manager ofOperations for Security Robert J. Dowling--havedenied previous allegations that Behenna harassedemployees.

An investigation conducted by Steiner's officelast spring also cleared Behenna, although severalof the guards who made accusations have said theinquiry was incomplete because they were notinterviewed.

It is not known whether the University isinvestigating Martin's allegations, but one sourcesaid that Dowling and Assistant Director forFinance and Administration Brian D. Sinclair '62had met with witnesses to the event, and thatJohnson had spoken with Martin

Last spring, three former and current minorityguards said Behenna harassed them because of theirrace. And last month, Frances C. Ugwuegbu, a Blackstudent at the Graduate School of Education, saidshe was verbally abused by the supervisor when sheworked as a dispatcher for the escort service inan incident she termed "definitely racial."

University officials--including Johnson, formerGeneral Counsel Daniel Steiner '54, Director ofHuman Resources Diane Patrick and Manager ofOperations for Security Robert J. Dowling--havedenied previous allegations that Behenna harassedemployees.

An investigation conducted by Steiner's officelast spring also cleared Behenna, although severalof the guards who made accusations have said theinquiry was incomplete because they were notinterviewed.

It is not known whether the University isinvestigating Martin's allegations, but one sourcesaid that Dowling and Assistant Director forFinance and Administration Brian D. Sinclair '62had met with witnesses to the event, and thatJohnson had spoken with Martin