Harvard police arrested four men yesterday afternoon for allegedly engaging in "open and gross lewdness" in the men's bathroom of the Science Center basement.

Witnesses said the men emerged from the bathroom in handcuffs at about 1 p.m., accompanied by several police officers. The four were then marched out of the building through the loading dock area, witnesses said.

"It was a long line and they had to make it through a big crowd of students," said David A. Aronberg '93.

Those arrested were identified in the Cambridge police journal as Robert A. Russo, 34, and John F. White, 47, both of Arlington, William White, 27, of Roslindale and John Adams, 42, of Watertown.

During the last five years, police have repeatedly sought to crack down on illicit sexual activity in the Science Center bathrooms. In 1985, Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III ordered the doors on lavatory stalls removed, shortly after two undergraduates and a University employee filed formal complaints that they had been harassed in the bathroom.

At that time, the bathroom had reportedly been listed in national gay publications as a "T-room," where men met to have sex.

December Raid

Harvard police recently stepped up efforts to discourage sexual activity in the men's room, according to officers. On several occasions, plainclothes officers have been stationed in the bathroom to watch for illegal activity.

In a raid shortly before Christmas vacation, officers reportedly caught a number of men using the restroom for sex. Those men were not arrested but were given warnings to stay off University property, police said.