Business Meetings Tense

Emotions are running high at the Harvard Business Club, as officers attempt to set aside personal differences to negotiate the constitution and future of their organization, officials said.

Club officers said they met for several hours Wednesday night following The Crimson's publication of allegations that member Daniel W. Hart '95 behaved unethically, was forced to resign from the club and founded a competing organization over the summer.

Hart's status with the club is unclear. Some members said that by the club's constitution, Hart should have been president this year. But the allegations by Konstantinos G. Tsakonas '93, who was president last year, have confused the situation.

Also, several members said they do not fully understand the club's constitution, which they said has led to the intervention of Dean Archie C. Epps III.

Hart's friends regarded the allegations against Hart by Tsakonas as unsubstantiated and cowardly, according to Kaeleil D. Isaza '94-95 and three others.

Isaza, who describes himself as one of Hart's "friends," said he asked Tsakonas to describe Hart's purportedly unethical behavior at the meeting.

"But he wouldn't tell me," Isaza said. "He just made more and more allegations."

Isaza and Tsakonas had a standoff during the meeting. Tsakonas said he felt threatened when Isaza stood up during the meeting, which was held in a room in the Science Center, and demanded to talk to Tsakonas outside of the room.

As Isaza walked out, according to Isaza, "I looked at Dan [Hart] and said, `I would like to beat the shit out of this guy."' Isaza said he also said to Tsakonas, "You don't have balls," mean- ing he didn't have courage to back up hisaccusations against Hart.

Isaza said last night that he only made hiscomments in "the emotion of the moment."

Tsakonas later left the room, and eventuallymet Isaza and others in the Science Center'sGreenhouse Cafe.

Isaza said Tsakonas then asked him where he wasfrom, and Isaza initially refused to respond."When I said I was from Colombia, he said, `Don'ttalk to me in your dirty Colombian street talk,'"Isaza said.

Tsakonas acknowledged that he asked Isaza abouthis background, but he said any comments he madewere provoked by Isaza's aggressive remarks andwere in no way aimed at his specific nationality.

Isaza, Choe and Steven C. Chang '94 all saidthe argument came to a positive resolution.

"It was a very heated argument," Chang said."But in the end, they came to an agreement." Choeand Isaza also said the meeting's resolution waspositive.

Anthony U. Choe '94 said it was generallyagreed that another meeting would be held, where avote of confidence would be taken for Hart as thepresident of the club.

According to Choe, Tsakonas agreed at theWednesday meeting to send The Crimson anexplanatory letter yesterday, and Choe said thatIsaza made it clear that if the letter was notsent, he would "take his own initiative" and senda letter.

The Crimson did not receive Tsakonas's letteryesterday.

The Business Club's top officer, CoordinatorDimitar J. Genov '94, said the charges ofunethical behavior stemmed from Hart's actions ata meeting last year.

Hart presented one of the club's speakers, aRussian businessperson from Siberia, with abusiness card reading "Dan Hart Consulting," Genovand others said.

Genov said Tsakonas regarded such behavior asunethical, and asked Hart to resign his position.

But Genov said, "I see nothing wrong with Hartgiving the speaker his card," and added he hopeshe and Hart will be able to reconcile thedifferences between their clubs.

Genov said he and Tsakonas had a "longargument" over this matter Wednesday night.

"Maybe he knew that Tsakonas was leaving, andthought he could be of use this year, and so gave[the Russian speaker] his card," Genov said.

"Konstantinos misunderstood the entireinteraction, and thought of it as a personalinterest thing. It got all screwed up," club VicePresident Reed Johnstone '96 said. "I amdisappointed that Konstantinos slandered Dan inthe Crimson article."

Hart said last week he did not act unethicallylast year. He refused to comment yesterday,calling the "attitude of The Crimson"unprofessional.

Hart, who was one of the most active members ofthe club last year, recruited many of this year'smembers, officials said. Hart did not likeTsakonas's less active approach, Genov said, andthere were tensions between the two.

Business Club Treasurer Richard A.Leigh-Pemberton '95 said yesterday that he isconcerned that too many changes could detract fromthe main purpose of the club.

"We are the Harvard Business Club, and we couldjust keep on going with what we are," saidLeigh-Pemberton. "It is hard to reach theconclusion that we need to change anything."

The club's constitution calls for officials tobe elected by appointment, and Tsakonas refused toappoint Hart as this year's director, Genov said.

Chang said the club's constitution, which wasamended in 1988, is not fully understood by manyof the club's members. Tsakonas was asked toexplain it at the Wednesday meeting, but did notadequately clarify it, Chang said.

"Apparently, the club has a graduate board,which is supposed to recommend who should beappointed as officers. As far as I can tell,Konstantinos Tsakonas is the only person on theboard," Chang said.

"There's some question as to whetherKonstantinos was ever elected by constitutionalguidelines," said Chang.

Chang and Genov both said that it may be timefor Tsakonas to move on. "He graduated, and maybehe should move on to other things," Chang said.

Club officials said the constitution'sabiguities led Dean of Students Archie C. Epps IIIto become involved.

"Dean Epps claims to understand theconstitution of the club," Chang said, "but Idon't see how that's possible."

Genov said he hopes the controversy ends soon."My idea of an extracurricular is to have fun, butnow I don't know," he said

Isaza said last night that he only made hiscomments in "the emotion of the moment."

Tsakonas later left the room, and eventuallymet Isaza and others in the Science Center'sGreenhouse Cafe.

Isaza said Tsakonas then asked him where he wasfrom, and Isaza initially refused to respond."When I said I was from Colombia, he said, `Don'ttalk to me in your dirty Colombian street talk,'"Isaza said.

Tsakonas acknowledged that he asked Isaza abouthis background, but he said any comments he madewere provoked by Isaza's aggressive remarks andwere in no way aimed at his specific nationality.

Isaza, Choe and Steven C. Chang '94 all saidthe argument came to a positive resolution.

"It was a very heated argument," Chang said."But in the end, they came to an agreement." Choeand Isaza also said the meeting's resolution waspositive.

Anthony U. Choe '94 said it was generallyagreed that another meeting would be held, where avote of confidence would be taken for Hart as thepresident of the club.

According to Choe, Tsakonas agreed at theWednesday meeting to send The Crimson anexplanatory letter yesterday, and Choe said thatIsaza made it clear that if the letter was notsent, he would "take his own initiative" and senda letter.

The Crimson did not receive Tsakonas's letteryesterday.

The Business Club's top officer, CoordinatorDimitar J. Genov '94, said the charges ofunethical behavior stemmed from Hart's actions ata meeting last year.

Hart presented one of the club's speakers, aRussian businessperson from Siberia, with abusiness card reading "Dan Hart Consulting," Genovand others said.

Genov said Tsakonas regarded such behavior asunethical, and asked Hart to resign his position.

But Genov said, "I see nothing wrong with Hartgiving the speaker his card," and added he hopeshe and Hart will be able to reconcile thedifferences between their clubs.

Genov said he and Tsakonas had a "longargument" over this matter Wednesday night.

"Maybe he knew that Tsakonas was leaving, andthought he could be of use this year, and so gave[the Russian speaker] his card," Genov said.

"Konstantinos misunderstood the entireinteraction, and thought of it as a personalinterest thing. It got all screwed up," club VicePresident Reed Johnstone '96 said. "I amdisappointed that Konstantinos slandered Dan inthe Crimson article."

Hart said last week he did not act unethicallylast year. He refused to comment yesterday,calling the "attitude of The Crimson"unprofessional.

Hart, who was one of the most active members ofthe club last year, recruited many of this year'smembers, officials said. Hart did not likeTsakonas's less active approach, Genov said, andthere were tensions between the two.

Business Club Treasurer Richard A.Leigh-Pemberton '95 said yesterday that he isconcerned that too many changes could detract fromthe main purpose of the club.

"We are the Harvard Business Club, and we couldjust keep on going with what we are," saidLeigh-Pemberton. "It is hard to reach theconclusion that we need to change anything."

The club's constitution calls for officials tobe elected by appointment, and Tsakonas refused toappoint Hart as this year's director, Genov said.

Chang said the club's constitution, which wasamended in 1988, is not fully understood by manyof the club's members. Tsakonas was asked toexplain it at the Wednesday meeting, but did notadequately clarify it, Chang said.

"Apparently, the club has a graduate board,which is supposed to recommend who should beappointed as officers. As far as I can tell,Konstantinos Tsakonas is the only person on theboard," Chang said.

"There's some question as to whetherKonstantinos was ever elected by constitutionalguidelines," said Chang.

Chang and Genov both said that it may be timefor Tsakonas to move on. "He graduated, and maybehe should move on to other things," Chang said.

Club officials said the constitution'sabiguities led Dean of Students Archie C. Epps IIIto become involved.

"Dean Epps claims to understand theconstitution of the club," Chang said, "but Idon't see how that's possible."

Genov said he hopes the controversy ends soon."My idea of an extracurricular is to have fun, butnow I don't know," he said