University Tallies Cost of PSLM Protest

While the final cost will not be totaled for several weeks, the price to the University for the three-week occupation of Mass. Hall by members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement is expected to approach $200,000.

Bills are still trickling in, and administrators say they are unsure exactly how the cost will be shared, although it will likely be split between The Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the University's Central Administration and the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD).

Police overtime charges constituted the largest chunk of the protest's costs, with HUPD officers working double shifts throughout the protest.

Exact numbers were not available yesterday, but HUPD's overtime costs, for maintaining at least five officers and a supervisor at Mass. Hall for the entire 21-day stand-off will top $130,000--plus the physical strain on officers who worked 16-hour days for most of protest.

"There were a lot of families that were very upset, and a lot of officers who were working too many hours," HUPD Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley said. "It was a drain."

Additionally, nine days into the protest, HUPD had to call in officers from the Cambridge Police Department--resulting in a cost of roughly $20,000. Harvard security guards also worked overtime to assist with security in the Yard.

Since they had to remain on post during meals, police received box lunches and drinks from Crimson Catering, at a cost of $10.95 each--ending with a meal tab of over $3000.

Police say, though, that the costs were worth it because the protest ended without incident or injury.

"It all ended up coming out alright," Riley said.

In addition to HUPD's costs, the Harvard News Office spent several thousand dollars in advertising, videotapes, film, and overtime for staff during the sit-in, according to spokesperson Joe Wrinn--who often spent more than 12 hours a day dealing with the media during the protest.

While salaried administrators do not get paid overtime, Harvard officials say the total cost in time alone cannot be calculated. They had daily conference calls, regularly attended rallies outside Mass. Hall, and met with protesters throughout the three-weak stand-off.

"It will be weeks before I catch up on regular duties," said Associated Dean of the College David P. Illingworth '67, who estimated that the protest took up around half of each day during the three weeks.

Finally, after the protest ended Tuesday, Harvard brought in cleaners to vacuum, shampoo, disinfect, and polish the Mass. Hall offices the protesters had occupied.

The University also had to reseed the Yard, where rallies and tents had worn away the young grass.

--Staff Writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached at ggraff@fas.harvard.edu.