Junior Seeks Seized Chicken

After two months in the property room of the Harvard Police, the chicken may soon come home to roost. A Harvard junior's rubber chicken, that is.

Daryl C. Norcott '94, known to many undergraduates as "Chicken Man," lost his favorite piece of poultry during the first half of the Harvard-Yale Game when an unidentified student tossed it at a police officer.

Despite repeated efforts, Norcott has not been able to convince police that the chicken is his.

"It has been hard to go through the grueling winter months without a chicken," said Norcott, a resident of Dunster House. "At this stage in my life I really need the chicken back."

But now there is some hope for Norcott and the nameless chicken. Last week, Norcott received pictures in the mail from home that feature him with his chicken. And police say this might be enough proof to reclaim the bird.

"If he has got a picture of him and the chicken, I don't have a problem with that," said Lt. Larry J. Murphy, who originally demanded a receipt as proof of purchase.

Murphy was the officer on the scene when Norcott first lost the chicken. According to Norcott, students filled up the chicken with beer or water and drank from the mouth. At one point students started throwing the chicken at each other, and one fan threw it at Murphy.

"I put it in a car and secured it," Murphy said.

Christopher B. Rodning '94, a friend of Norcott who referred to the chicken as "a ritual object," said Norcott did not take the loss very well.

"He was really depressed," he said.

Norcott said he spent the second half of the game pleading with Murphy to return the chicken. But Murphy said two other people also claimed the chicken, leading to a shoving match between the two.

"It is an ongoing situational problem," Murphy said. "How do you know who to give it to? You can't cut it up into three pieces."

Norcott denied ever being in or witnessing a shoving match and said Murphy refused to identify the other alleged owners.

Norcott, who has owned the chicken for threeyears, said he has gone on stage with the chickenand performed "little dances with it in public andprivate."

While waiting to produce proof of ownership,Norcott said he considered replacing the chicken.

"But I really can't get another one until Iknow what happened to this chicken," he said. "Ihave a plastic duck, but it just doesn't add up tothe companionship of a chicken."

Rodning said he suggested that he and Norcottpicket the police station, demanding the releaseof the chicken.

But with the arrival of the picture of Norcottposing with the chicken, the protests have beencancelled. Norcott said he will probably bring thepicture down after exams.

Otherwise, Murphy said he will hold onto thechicken until June. "If it is not claimed by then,we will probably dispose of it," Murphy said.

The chicken could not be reached for comment

Norcott, who has owned the chicken for threeyears, said he has gone on stage with the chickenand performed "little dances with it in public andprivate."

While waiting to produce proof of ownership,Norcott said he considered replacing the chicken.

"But I really can't get another one until Iknow what happened to this chicken," he said. "Ihave a plastic duck, but it just doesn't add up tothe companionship of a chicken."

Rodning said he suggested that he and Norcottpicket the police station, demanding the releaseof the chicken.

But with the arrival of the picture of Norcottposing with the chicken, the protests have beencancelled. Norcott said he will probably bring thepicture down after exams.

Otherwise, Murphy said he will hold onto thechicken until June. "If it is not claimed by then,we will probably dispose of it," Murphy said.

The chicken could not be reached for comment