Arraigned Seniors Will Not Graduate

Currently charged with two counts of drug possession and four counts of intent to distribute, seniors Stephen V. David '96 and William A. Blankenship '96 will not march in today's Commencement ceremony.

The pending criminal action prevents the former Currier residents from maintaining "good standing with the University," a condition required in order to earn a Harvard degree.

The College administration will not consider their standing until the cases against the two seniors have been settled in court, which will likely take an extended period of time.

At Middlesex Country Courthouse yesterday, David and Blankenship's pre-trial conference was again granted a continuance, this time until June 27th. At the first pre-trial hearing on May 22, a continuance was granted until June 5.

On April 11, the two seniors were charged with two counts of cocaine possession with intent to distribute and multiple counts of illegal drug possession. They were additionally charged with two counts of intent to distribute drugs near schools or parks, since Gilbert Hall, the building in which they lived, is within 1000 feet of Peabody School, an elementary school.

The charges resulted from a six-to eight-week drug investigation by the Harvard University Police Department, which was partially facilitated by student informers and an undercover cop posing as a student.

While student sources pinpointed the initiation of the drug sting to a student health emergency during a party in Currier G404, the room of Shameel Arafin '97, who may also be facing administrative board action, Harvard Police Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley said in an interview that the investigation had actually begun much earlier.

"One person was concerned about their roommates' health," he said, and others had come forward with concerns about student welfare earlier. As a result of this student input, Riley added, "several things came to light."

While Riley did acknowledge that "a medical emergency in the Quad of a student from another, nearby university led to the discovery of the possession of controlled substances on another student," he also said that other sources had allowed them to identify major players in Harvard's drug community.

The investigation culminated on April 10, 1996, at approximately 9:15 p.m., when Harvard University Police officers executed a search warrant for the rooms of students Stephen David and William Blankenship, rooms 416 and 417 in Gilbert Hall of Currier House.

Harvard police say they discovered quantities of ecstasy, LSD, mushrooms and marijuana. The two students were arrested.

Blankenship and David were first transported to Harvard Police Department headquarters and then taken to Cambridge Police Department for booking and holding.

They were both released the following day on $250 bail, paid by a fellow student, Tracey E. Guice '96 of Pforzheimer House. Both students pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The sale of narcotics to an undercover officer, who was introduced to Currier social circles as the friend of a student, led the police department to believe that Blankenship and David were distributing drugs on a large scale, Riley said.

Currier House Master William A. Graham Jr. said he had been informed of a campus-wide drug investigation involving narcotics officers but was not sure whether or not the undercover police officer in the case was present in Currier House at any time.

Citing ongoing legal proceedings, Allson Burr Senior Tutor of Currier House John D. Stubbs refused to comment on the presence of a narcotics officer in the House.

"The whole incident was quite upsetting to the House," Stubbs said, "and remains that way to some extent."

Blockmates and friends of David and Blankenship have repeatedly refused to comment on the situation.

The incident has sparked fear among students, who cite the Currier drug bust as only one in a string of crackdowns on illicit alcohol and drug use on campus this year.

But administrators deny this charge, saying that neither policy nor enforcement has changed, even under the new leadership of no-nonsense Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68.

"This is not a witch hunt. There was no attempt by HUPD to allege widespread distribution," Riley said. "This was a single investigation."

But the investigation did yield more than just the arrests of David and Blankenship. Administrative action is pending against a number of involved students, Riley said.

Because the investigation was conducted by HUPD, rather than by the Cambridge Police Department or other outside parties, students implicated in illegal action can stay out of the courts. By handling the investigation internally, Riley said, HUPD was able to limit student arrests.

The Aftermath

David's lawyer, Eliot Weinstein, says he plans to contest the legality of the warrant.

According to Weinstein, there was "not sufficient showing of probable cause to search Mr. David's room."

"It's my view that Harvard police illegally searched David's room," he said.

Riley said he was unsurprised by such accusations, but maintained that HUPD had acted appropriately.

Sources say David and Blankenship have been seen around campus, despite their questionable standing with the University.

Approximately two weeks ago, Harvard police responded to a 209A at Currier House, a violation of a restraining order, and told the subject that he was not permitted on the property without the permission of the senior tutor. The name of the subject was not cited.

Students said they are concerned about the future of David and Blankenship, both of whom are well-liked and well-known across campus, adding that the seniors deserve sympathy rather than condemnation.

Many say they believe the two are martyrs for a larger community and say they are shocked at the potential gravity of the punishment.

The most serious penalties facing Blankenship and David result from charges of intent to distribute drugs within 1,000 feet of a school or park.

If convicted on those charges, Blankenship and David will be sentenced to jail for a mandatory minimum of two years for each count, with no chance of reduction or suspension of the sentence until two years are served.

--Laura C. Semerjian contributed to the reporting of this story.

Harvard police say they discovered quantities of ecstasy, LSD, mushrooms and marijuana. The two students were arrested.

Blankenship and David were first transported to Harvard Police Department headquarters and then taken to Cambridge Police Department for booking and holding.

They were both released the following day on $250 bail, paid by a fellow student, Tracey E. Guice '96 of Pforzheimer House. Both students pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The sale of narcotics to an undercover officer, who was introduced to Currier social circles as the friend of a student, led the police department to believe that Blankenship and David were distributing drugs on a large scale, Riley said.

Currier House Master William A. Graham Jr. said he had been informed of a campus-wide drug investigation involving narcotics officers but was not sure whether or not the undercover police officer in the case was present in Currier House at any time.

Citing ongoing legal proceedings, Allson Burr Senior Tutor of Currier House John D. Stubbs refused to comment on the presence of a narcotics officer in the House.

"The whole incident was quite upsetting to the House," Stubbs said, "and remains that way to some extent."

Blockmates and friends of David and Blankenship have repeatedly refused to comment on the situation.

The incident has sparked fear among students, who cite the Currier drug bust as only one in a string of crackdowns on illicit alcohol and drug use on campus this year.

But administrators deny this charge, saying that neither policy nor enforcement has changed, even under the new leadership of no-nonsense Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68.

"This is not a witch hunt. There was no attempt by HUPD to allege widespread distribution," Riley said. "This was a single investigation."

But the investigation did yield more than just the arrests of David and Blankenship. Administrative action is pending against a number of involved students, Riley said.

Because the investigation was conducted by HUPD, rather than by the Cambridge Police Department or other outside parties, students implicated in illegal action can stay out of the courts. By handling the investigation internally, Riley said, HUPD was able to limit student arrests.

The Aftermath

David's lawyer, Eliot Weinstein, says he plans to contest the legality of the warrant.

According to Weinstein, there was "not sufficient showing of probable cause to search Mr. David's room."

"It's my view that Harvard police illegally searched David's room," he said.

Riley said he was unsurprised by such accusations, but maintained that HUPD had acted appropriately.

Sources say David and Blankenship have been seen around campus, despite their questionable standing with the University.

Approximately two weeks ago, Harvard police responded to a 209A at Currier House, a violation of a restraining order, and told the subject that he was not permitted on the property without the permission of the senior tutor. The name of the subject was not cited.

Students said they are concerned about the future of David and Blankenship, both of whom are well-liked and well-known across campus, adding that the seniors deserve sympathy rather than condemnation.

Many say they believe the two are martyrs for a larger community and say they are shocked at the potential gravity of the punishment.

The most serious penalties facing Blankenship and David result from charges of intent to distribute drugs within 1,000 feet of a school or park.

If convicted on those charges, Blankenship and David will be sentenced to jail for a mandatory minimum of two years for each count, with no chance of reduction or suspension of the sentence until two years are served.

--Laura C. Semerjian contributed to the reporting of this story.