Harassment Trial Starts Friday

A sexual harassment suit against a Harvard Extension School research advisor brought by his former co-worker will go to trial Friday.

In the suit, M. Delise Battenfield accuses the research advisor to master's degree candidates, Donald Ostrowski, of sexual harassment for a remark at a meeting in 1991.

Battenfield, a former master's candidate who also worked as an assistant in the master's program office, alleges that the remark constitutes harassment because Ostrowski kissed her on three prior occasions.

The suit also names Harvard as a defendant and alleges that Dean of the Extension School Michael Shinagel and other University officials failed to investigate after Battenfield alerted them to the charges.

"There has been sexual harassment by a research adviser," reads a memo to Shinagel written by extension school assistant dean L. Dodge Fernald Jr. in May of 1991. "This problem has existed for several months and [Battenfield] has tried to tolerate it."

Fernald's memo asks Shangel, who is also master of Quincy House, to investigate. But no probe ever occurred.

'Lust After You'

Battenfield testified in a deposition that before one of the three kisses Ostrowski said, "You know, I lust after you at night."

Before another, Ostrowski said "something to the effect of' will you sleep with me" or 'are you going to have a sexual relationship with me,'" according to Battenfield's deposition. She testified that she refused his request.

The kisses allegedly occurred in 1988, but Battenfield did not bring them to the attention of Extension School officials until another 1991 remark.

In a May 1991 meeting at which Extension School staff members were asked to evaluate Battenfield's job performance, Ostrowski said, according to Battenfield's deposition: "When I first started here, I soon found out that I couldn't get anything more than a yawn from Delise; and then after a while, I figured out that I could get what I wanted from Sarah [Gruppe, another co-worker]."

Battenfield testified that she believes thestatement was "between me and Don" and referred toher decision to refuse his sexual advances.Battenfield's deposition also charged that "Sarah"had a relationship with the research advisor.

Battenfield began suffering severe stomachproblems after the 1991 meeting. University HealthServices records obtained by The Crimson show thatDr. Paul B. Lesser wrote in a June 18 report, "Shehas been under a lot of stress at work,particularly around the May 14 meeting."

Battenfield soon became too sick to work, andMay 20, 1991, was her last day on the job.

Battenfield told Extension School officialsthat she was taking sick days so they should notgive up her job, and officials assured her thatshe would not be replaced, according to herdeposition. But she was replaced anyway.

Time Barred

In the upcoming trial, the jury will only beable to consider Ostrowski's 1991 remark--and notthe kisses--as sexual harassment. A judge ruledthe kisses "time-barred" because Batten-field hadnot brought the accusation within six months ofthe incident.

The judge ruled that the jury could considerthe kisses only as they relate to Ostrowski'sremark.

The trial was scheduled to begin yesterday inMiddlesex County Superior Court but was postponedbecause the grandmother of Batten field's husbandfell seriously ill.

Ryan told the judge's clerk yesterday that heexpects the trial to last at least a week

Battenfield testified that she believes thestatement was "between me and Don" and referred toher decision to refuse his sexual advances.Battenfield's deposition also charged that "Sarah"had a relationship with the research advisor.

Battenfield began suffering severe stomachproblems after the 1991 meeting. University HealthServices records obtained by The Crimson show thatDr. Paul B. Lesser wrote in a June 18 report, "Shehas been under a lot of stress at work,particularly around the May 14 meeting."

Battenfield soon became too sick to work, andMay 20, 1991, was her last day on the job.

Battenfield told Extension School officialsthat she was taking sick days so they should notgive up her job, and officials assured her thatshe would not be replaced, according to herdeposition. But she was replaced anyway.

Time Barred

In the upcoming trial, the jury will only beable to consider Ostrowski's 1991 remark--and notthe kisses--as sexual harassment. A judge ruledthe kisses "time-barred" because Batten-field hadnot brought the accusation within six months ofthe incident.

The judge ruled that the jury could considerthe kisses only as they relate to Ostrowski'sremark.

The trial was scheduled to begin yesterday inMiddlesex County Superior Court but was postponedbecause the grandmother of Batten field's husbandfell seriously ill.

Ryan told the judge's clerk yesterday that heexpects the trial to last at least a week