As they have so many times in the past, Dartmouth football fans somehow managed to elude campus security Wednesday night, covering the John Harvard statue in the Yard with pale green paint.

This time, however, they tried a new twist on the age-old prank, painting a large green "D" on the steps of Widener Library.

The vandals apparently timed their attack perfectly, putting their plan into action one night before campus police began their around-the-clock guard of the statue.

Harvard Police Chief Paul E. Johnson said that there had been a security guard on duty by the statue until midnight Wednesday, and that the vandals must have struck sometime between midnight and dawn yesterday.

"It's a tough call to make," Johnson said. "You can't tell when they're going to do it."

Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III said Dartmouth fans had never--to his recollection--tried painting a giant "D" on the Widener steps, although they have splashed green paint on University Hall.

Asked whether campus security would position a guard at Widener Library this weekend, Epps only said that "security would be increased overall."

In addition, Epps said that he expected the only Harvard retalliation to be "on the playing field" because Harvard students are "gentlemen and gentlewomen."