Byerly Hall Security System Broken for Over One Year

In the wake of Tuesday night's rape of a Harvard-affiliated woman in Byerly Hall, concerned employees raised questions yesterday about the building's security system, which they say has been broken for over a year.

The alarm, had it been working, would have alerted the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) if the perpetrator broke in through an alarmed door, according to Francis D. "Bud" Riley, chief of police. At this point in the investigation, Riley said HUPD does not know how the perpetrator entered Byerly Hall.

"I have no evidence right now that either ties this crime to the alarm system or doesn't tie this crime to the alarm system," Riley said.

HUPD, which is conducting an ongoing investigation into the crime, released a community advisory and a composite sketch of the suspect yesterday.

The suspect is described as a white male, about six feet tall and 35 to 40 years old. He has very short hair, a thin build, and a thin acne-scarred face. He was last seen wearing a beige shirt, slacks and shoes.

Yesterday, Harvard and Radcliffe officials expressed differing opinions on the responsibility for the ongoing security breach.

Byerly Hall, which houses several offices in Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, including the Undergraduate and Graduate Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and the Student Employment Office, is owned by Radcliffe College.

Director of Admissions Marlyn McGrath Lewis '73, who works on the building's first floor, said her office has been in talks for several months with their Radcliffe College landlords about the need to do a security review.

"This building has always been a concern with its multiple egresses. It is used intensively at night and on weekends," Lewis said.

But John O. Horst, director of facilities and administrative services for Radcliffe College, said the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid is in charge of the alarm.

"They put in the alarm system and since we took over management of the building in July 1998 we have been responsible for maintenance of common areas and the exterior of the building, but the alarm system is in their office space," he said.

Horst said the broken alarm was first brought to his attention two months ago.

"We have been in the process of looking into replacing the alarm system and met with the police two weeks ago to discuss the matter," he added.

Riley said he only became aware that the alarm system was broken yesterday morning. He said he did not know when it was last working.

Following the crime and the discovery that the alarm system has been and continues to be broken, HUPD has heightened its presence in Radcliffe Yard and the Quad. Riley said that starting yesterday, there is now an officer on duty at Byerly Hall all day long, and HUPD patrols the area at night.

"We have patrols in that area...because of the anxiety surrounding the crime," Riley said. "I beefed them up [yesterday} morning when I found out the alarm system was down."