Outspoken Guard Fired

University Security guard Pierre R. Voss, who touched off a year-long controversy by going public with charges of on-the-job harassment by his supervisors in May 1992, was fired last month for what Harvard officials called "a poor attendance record."

Voss, who is Black, has charged repeatedly in interviews with The Crimson that security officials harassed and discriminated against him on the basis of his race in allocating overtime, benefits and discipline.

Earlier this year, the guard filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination alleging discrimination and retaliation by the University. That complaint is still pending.

Manager of Operations for Security Robert J. Dowling and Acting Chief of Police Lt. Lawrence J. Murphy said Voss was fired because he would not return to work after he allegedly injured his back during a fall near the chemistry laboratory facilities in July.

Dowling, however, said yesterday that officials in the Office of Human Resourcesand the Office of General Counsel decided to fireVoss, and that he and other security departmentofficials had nothing to do with it.

"I didn't get involved in that," said Dowling,whom Voss has charged with discrimination. "Thatdecision was made entirely in Holyoke Center."

University Attorney Allan A. Ryan Jr., who isdefending Harvard in the discrimination complaint,would not comment on his role in the firing. Humanresources officials and Vice President and GeneralCounsel Margaret H. Marshall did not return phonecalls yesterday.

Voss, who had previously missed months of workwith a back injury, said his injury was aggravatedby the fall and by Dowling's decision to place himon a particularly grueling shift involving almostconstant walking.

Voss said he attempted to return to work butcould not gain medical clearance to accept jobassignments that involve large amounts of walking.Dowling has said that he doubts the severity ofVoss's injury and that no special preference inassignments could be given to Voss.

"I find it ironic that I was fired for a lackof attendance when they wouldn't let me come backto work," Voss said.

University officials, including Dowling, havedenied Voss's charges. And a report released thissummer by Vice President and General CounselMargaret H. Marshall disputed Voss's allegationsand similar claims made by 10 other former andcurrent security department employees.

In fact, the report all but said Voss was lyingabout the charges. "[Voss] has used unfoundedcomplaints of racism with management and in thestudent press for personal advantage, and as ameans of undermining [guard unit SupervisorDonald] Behenna," the report read.

Voss maintained that the report, which wasprepared by lawyers and an investigator atMarshall's former law firm of Choate, Hall &Stewart, misrepresented his statements toinvestigators.

He also noted that the report contained noevidence showing what he had gained by making thecomplaints other than, in his words, "moreharassment."

Richard H. Spicer, a Waltham attorney who isrepresenting Voss, has not commented on thefiring. He did not return a phone call yesterday

"I didn't get involved in that," said Dowling,whom Voss has charged with discrimination. "Thatdecision was made entirely in Holyoke Center."

University Attorney Allan A. Ryan Jr., who isdefending Harvard in the discrimination complaint,would not comment on his role in the firing. Humanresources officials and Vice President and GeneralCounsel Margaret H. Marshall did not return phonecalls yesterday.

Voss, who had previously missed months of workwith a back injury, said his injury was aggravatedby the fall and by Dowling's decision to place himon a particularly grueling shift involving almostconstant walking.

Voss said he attempted to return to work butcould not gain medical clearance to accept jobassignments that involve large amounts of walking.Dowling has said that he doubts the severity ofVoss's injury and that no special preference inassignments could be given to Voss.

"I find it ironic that I was fired for a lackof attendance when they wouldn't let me come backto work," Voss said.

University officials, including Dowling, havedenied Voss's charges. And a report released thissummer by Vice President and General CounselMargaret H. Marshall disputed Voss's allegationsand similar claims made by 10 other former andcurrent security department employees.

In fact, the report all but said Voss was lyingabout the charges. "[Voss] has used unfoundedcomplaints of racism with management and in thestudent press for personal advantage, and as ameans of undermining [guard unit SupervisorDonald] Behenna," the report read.

Voss maintained that the report, which wasprepared by lawyers and an investigator atMarshall's former law firm of Choate, Hall &Stewart, misrepresented his statements toinvestigators.

He also noted that the report contained noevidence showing what he had gained by making thecomplaints other than, in his words, "moreharassment."

Richard H. Spicer, a Waltham attorney who isrepresenting Voss, has not commented on thefiring. He did not return a phone call yesterday