Guards Await New Inquiry

As allegations of harassment made by University security guards against their supervisors mounted and morale in the Harvard security department suffered this year, many guards have called for a thorough investigation of the charges to improve conditions in their unit.

Now, six months after Pierre R. Voss became the first guard to publicly charge harassment, these guards may get the investigation they want.

Last month, after Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III spoke out on the issue, President Neil L. Rudenstine said he would have new General Counsel Margaret H. Marshall take a "second look" at the allegations of harassment.

Marshall settled into her Massachusetts Hall office last week and, if Rudenstine keeps his word, she will soon investigate the charges.

But in the wake of last spring's probe by the office of former General Counsel Daniel Steiner '54, many guards say they are wary of University investigators. Some guards have criticized Steiner's probe, which found only a "perception" of harassment in the unit and cleared the supervisors, because the guards were not interviewed.

These guards, as well as police officers familiar with the harassment charges, say they have their own ideas about how the new general counsel should approach this new investigation.

University officials--including Chief Paul E. Johnson, Assistant Director for Finance and Administration Brian D. Sinclair '62, and Director of Human Resources Diane Patrick, who performed the investigation last spring--did not return phone calls seeking comment for this article. Security supervisors have consistently refused to comment, referring all questions to Johnson.

While department employees differ on specific ideas, nearly all those interviewed since the allegations surfaced last spring agree on four basic recommendations.

Investigators should conduct in- terviews with all seven former and currentsecurity guards who have charged harassment basedon their race or ethnicity: former guards RolandoDiaz and Rodney Johnson and current guards PierreR. Voss, Steven Thompson, Jacquelynn Leonard,Howard Reid and the department's lone Russianguard, who has asked that his name not be used.

.Investigators should interview currentsecurity supervisors--Donald P. Behenna, Thomas F.Henaghan, Audeno Bavaro, Emmanuel Mango and AndrewParker--to discuss specific allegations ofharassment, morale and the supervisors' approachto managing the unit.

.Interviews with guards should be heldwithout supervisors present, and vice versa. Somesay it is important that the interviews not havetime limits to ensure that all parties receive afull hearing.

"I would do it in a one-on-one situation withboth [guards and supervisors] first, then see whatkind of feedback you get," said one policeofficial. "Then bring them both in."

.Interviews shoud be conducted with pastsecurity supervisors and department officials.Some guards suggested that Marshal should talkwith a former supervisor, Sgt. Robert R.Sutherland, who is Black.

All seven guards who have made their chargespublic have expressed an interest in beinginterviewed by University investigators.

"They can call me any time right up until nighttime, when I work," said former guard RodneyJohnson, who like Diaz, is listed in the Cambridgetelephone directory.

But several department veterans have suggestedthat the general counsel's office should notinvestigate charges of potentially unlawfulbehavior in the guard unit, because Marshall hasan interest in protecting the University fromlawsuits.

"How are we supposed to trust the generalcounsel?" asked one longtime department employee."If they'd done this right the first time, thisnever would have ended up in the paper."

Some of these employees suggest that theUniversity create an investigative panel offaculty, administrators and police officials toprobe the charges. Such panels, which some lawenforcement agencies use to resolve delicateissues like on-the-job harassment, may be the bestapproach to the problem, according to theveterans.

"Everyone in this group should be familiar withthe principles of management, and they shouldn'treport to the chief or someone of that ilk," saidone police official. "For her own credibility, thegeneral counsel needs to put something togetherthat gives her the truth.

.Investigators should interview currentsecurity supervisors--Donald P. Behenna, Thomas F.Henaghan, Audeno Bavaro, Emmanuel Mango and AndrewParker--to discuss specific allegations ofharassment, morale and the supervisors' approachto managing the unit.

.Interviews with guards should be heldwithout supervisors present, and vice versa. Somesay it is important that the interviews not havetime limits to ensure that all parties receive afull hearing.

"I would do it in a one-on-one situation withboth [guards and supervisors] first, then see whatkind of feedback you get," said one policeofficial. "Then bring them both in."

.Interviews shoud be conducted with pastsecurity supervisors and department officials.Some guards suggested that Marshal should talkwith a former supervisor, Sgt. Robert R.Sutherland, who is Black.

All seven guards who have made their chargespublic have expressed an interest in beinginterviewed by University investigators.

"They can call me any time right up until nighttime, when I work," said former guard RodneyJohnson, who like Diaz, is listed in the Cambridgetelephone directory.

But several department veterans have suggestedthat the general counsel's office should notinvestigate charges of potentially unlawfulbehavior in the guard unit, because Marshall hasan interest in protecting the University fromlawsuits.

"How are we supposed to trust the generalcounsel?" asked one longtime department employee."If they'd done this right the first time, thisnever would have ended up in the paper."

Some of these employees suggest that theUniversity create an investigative panel offaculty, administrators and police officials toprobe the charges. Such panels, which some lawenforcement agencies use to resolve delicateissues like on-the-job harassment, may be the bestapproach to the problem, according to theveterans.

"Everyone in this group should be familiar withthe principles of management, and they shouldn'treport to the chief or someone of that ilk," saidone police official. "For her own credibility, thegeneral counsel needs to put something togetherthat gives her the truth.