Banner Stolen?

To the Editors of The Crimson:

On May 1st, 1983, International Workers Day, the Harvard Administration confiscated a May 1st banner put up by two Harvard students. The banner pictured a worker against a field of red flags. On July 25th, Dean Epps denied a request for compensation of the banner that was "lost" by the administration.

What occurred between the noontime rally and the "loss" of the banner is a classic example of the abuse of bureaucratic power and systematic harassment of revolutionaries. The fact that the banner was hand-painted on a delicate cloth and worth $500 is not as important as the implicit message delivered by the Harvard Administration to leftist activists.

At about 12 o'clock on May 1st a Dudley House resident and I walked into Dudley House carrying a large banner connected to a long plank of wood. As we entered, the security guard could not have missed us.

Once upstairs we put the banner outside a window facing Harvard Square. The security guard came upstairs and asked us if he could help us with anything. We politely indicated that we did not need any help. We were standing right in front of the banner, which was plainly visible. The guard said nothing and we left.

However, as soon as we got back to Holyoke Center we could see the guard taking down the banner as did about 50 other people at the rally at that time Dismayed, we went back to Dudley House to confront the guard. He informed us that we needed permission to put up the banner and that since it was Sunday we could not obtain permission. We pointed out that people put up banners all the time in the Yard Still, he insisted and we gave way. Then, when we asked for the banner oack he refused. When no reason was given we became quite angry. Familiar with bureaucratic harassment, I told him we could play equally "rough" and left.

What did the guard want' Did he want to steal the banner for himself Was his harassing us motivated by a widespread bureaucratic attitude against political activism, particularly of a revolutionary nature Taking no chances, we called and explained the incident to the Harvard Crimson and Harvard Independent while the rally was still going on. Both papers had reporters pass by the rally.

Still having no luck, I called and visited Dudley House eight times in the following weeks, each time with no result. Two of the visits included guided tours of Dudley House in search of the banner. One of these tours was on May 25th at which time there was no sign of the banner. Each time I called or visited I was told at the House Office that efforts were being made to contact the person who had it or saw it last. At no time were my messages or calls returned. Nor was the mystery person ever found as far as I have been informed. Then, a couple of days after Commencement, the House offered its first hint that the banner might have been moved in arrangements for Commencement. A week later, the story was final. The banner was lost in the "Commencement shuffle."

I asked about compensation for the banner and the House Office told me I would have to talk to the Master, who would not return until the fall. At this point I went about trying to locate the owner of the banner and a receipt on which to base compensation demands. With letter and receipt from the owner in hand I went to see Dean of Students Archie Epps about the banner. He told me that this was a responsibility of Dudley House and that I should see the Senior Tutor if the Master was not in. When I made an appointment with the Senior Tutor, I was told the Master was back in town after all. My discussion with the Master became quite heated. He denied compensation and offered several interesting rationales for his position: "You know that any time you want to put up a public statement around here, you have to have approval from the Dean."

"We are not concerned with this matter unless the House Committee wants to be."

"We can't be responsible for property left around the premises."

The Master was clearly briefed on the matter before our meeting, but he was shocked to know that I had enquired about the banner well before Commencement and that I had confronted the guard on his way down the stairs from the room where he had confiscated the banner.

When the Master realized this he said that that was "between you and the fellow who took it" I asked him if the House were not responsible for the actions of House employees. Finally, the Master told me that the House is not responsible for the guards who are employees of the University as a whole. For nearly two months I had been dealing with people who finally claimed that Dean Epps was responsible.

I went back to Dean Epps immediately. He admitted responsibility for such matters. However, he laughed at my request for compensation. His argument was that if I went to his house and put up a banner he would throw it out and not pay compensation. There could hardly be a clearer statement about how Harvard looks upon revolutionary activity on campus.

Progressive and radical groups on campus have long been harassed by the Harvard Administration. This is not the first time Harvard has thrown out the property of a left-wing grouping as will be shown in future writings by the RADACADS and others.

The H-R RADACADS (Radical Academics) vow to expose the ways of the Harvard Administration until the banner is paid for or returned. We call on others who have been harassed to contact us so that we may add to our forthcoming compilation of examples of political harassment. There will be a rapid escalation of exposure of the Harvard Administration in the coming months. Only in this way--not by the old idealist arguments for free speech--will revolutionary and progressive groups be relieved of a pattern of political repression. Henry C. Park '84   RADACADS spokesperson