Two Men Accost Summer School Students in Yard

A group of summer school students was accosted and threatened outside Thayer Hall early Sunday morning by a pair of self-styled skinheads, according to police records.

Cameron F. MacDonald and Kevin M. Silvers, both about 20 years old, were arrested for unarmed assault and intent to rob in connection with the incident, police said.

David A. Friedberg, a summer school student from Los Angeles, called the police after one of them took his pack of cigarettes, demanded money and repeatedly threatened him, he wrote in a statement to the police.

Friedberg wrote that the men approached him as he was lying on the grass near Thayer with a group of friends just before 1 a.m.

One of the men threatened to step on his head, and placed his foot in a menacing position, Friedberg wrote.

According to Friedberg's report, the man removed his hat and "proclaimed he was a skinhead."

The man demanded that Friedberg hand over his cigarettes, and when the summer student complied, demanded that he surrender the cash in his pocket.

"He...began demanding money, saying how he heard money in my pocket and I was a 'rich piece of shit' and a 'rich bitch,'" according to the report.

According to Friedberg, the man continued to make offensive comments and said, "I am non-politically correct and I fucking love it, man!"

The man continued to attempt to pick a fight with Friedberg, according to the report. At one point, the man threatened to kill Friedberg if he moved, according to the report.

Friedberg did manage at one point to slip away from the group and call the police, who arrived on the scene promptly, observers said.

Motivation

Despite the men's self-characterization as skinheads, the incident does not seem to have been racially motivated.

Friedberg and all eyewitnesses interviewed are white. And Jedediah S. Purdy '97, Friedberg's proctor, said he was "fairly sure" that the group was almost entirely white.

Friedberg speculated that behavior-altering substances played a larger role.

"One was drunk, the other one was probably on drugs," Friedberg said.

Friedberg said the police told him the two men would probably make bail and that such cases are usually resolved with a plea bargain. Harvard police officials refused to comment yesterday, saying the case is still under investigation.

Purdy said he thought the incident was a frightening one for the students.

"I think they've found it a sobering reminder that as protected and idyllic as the campus is it is still within a larger environment which can be dangerous," Purdy said.

Erin F. O'Connell, a summer school student from Radford, Va., who was in the group accosted by the men, said she was shaken by the incident.

"Even though they told us there was a possibility that outsiders would come into the inside world of Harvard, I didn't expect skinheads," said O'Connell.

Nicole P. Lewis, also a summer school student, said it was a frightening experience.

"The guy just walked up to us," said Lewis. "It was scary because in a situation like that you don't know what anybody is capable of doing."

Purdy also said he thought the skinheads were not making idle threats.

"I think it's important to emphasize how close [the students] were to being seriously hurt," Purdy said. "I think these thugs absolutely wanted a chance to hurt them."

Lewis, O'Connell and Purdy all agreed, however, that the police responded quickly.

"I think it's astounding how well-protected the campus is," said Purdy. "I think it's as safe as it can reasonably be."

Friedberg, however, was a little concerned about the ease of access to the campus late at night. He also said the emergency phone was too loud.

"I was afraid the guys would hear me [on the phone] and come over," said Friedberg.

The administration is using the incident as an opportunity to remind students to be cautions, even within the confines of Harvard Yard.

"I hope that all summer school students will take this as a warning: report suspicious persons to the police and take care to protect yourself and your belongings," said Christopher S. Queen, dean of students for Harvard Summer School.

But despite the obvious nervousness the incident inspired, a Thayer resident said some students seemed to find it the incident "exciting," and that they later recreated it for those who missed the first-hand experience

Purdy also said he thought the skinheads were not making idle threats.

"I think it's important to emphasize how close [the students] were to being seriously hurt," Purdy said. "I think these thugs absolutely wanted a chance to hurt them."

Lewis, O'Connell and Purdy all agreed, however, that the police responded quickly.

"I think it's astounding how well-protected the campus is," said Purdy. "I think it's as safe as it can reasonably be."

Friedberg, however, was a little concerned about the ease of access to the campus late at night. He also said the emergency phone was too loud.

"I was afraid the guys would hear me [on the phone] and come over," said Friedberg.

The administration is using the incident as an opportunity to remind students to be cautions, even within the confines of Harvard Yard.

"I hope that all summer school students will take this as a warning: report suspicious persons to the police and take care to protect yourself and your belongings," said Christopher S. Queen, dean of students for Harvard Summer School.

But despite the obvious nervousness the incident inspired, a Thayer resident said some students seemed to find it the incident "exciting," and that they later recreated it for those who missed the first-hand experience