As the controversy over charges of racial harassment brews within the Harvard security guard unit, the training of the guards--and their supervisors--has come under new scrutiny.

Many guards say inadequate training and supervision may be at the root of the alleged incidents of harassment. Whether harassment occurred or not, tensions are high and morale is low in the guard division of the Harvard Police Department.

After months of denials by other University officials, President Neil L. Rudenstine agreed last week to reopen an investigation of charges that minority guards were harassed by their supervisors.

Calling tensions in the unit a "serious problem" for the College, Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III last week urged police officials to improve training and supervision in the security department.

Interviews last week with security officials at other universities showed that Harvard may lag far behind in the sophistication of its sensitivity training, and in the qualifications of supervisors.

The situation became more significant when seven current and former security guards said last spring they were harassed by their superiors. The alleged harassment included verbal abuse, unusually close monitoring during shifts, and retaliation for complaints.

Rudenstine deemed the charges "serious enough" to warrant a "second look" by the general counsel's office, which cleared supervisors of wrongdoing in an investigation last spring.

Rudenstine's decision came after denials by a host of University officials including Police Chief Paul E. Johnson and acting General Counsel Frank J. Connors. Connors last month called the harassment allegations a "dead issue".

Although newly appointed General Counsel Margaret H. Marshall will not take office until next month, it is clear that her investigation will address training and supervision if it is to satisfy disgruntled guards.

Police officials involved in the training of guards and supervisors would not answer questions from The Crimson last week.

Johnson, who speaks at the training seminars, and Assistant Director for Finance and Administration Brian D. Sinclair '62, who handles most personnel issues, did not return more than a dozen phone calls last week.

In previous interviews, however, Johnson has acknowledged that security supervisor Donald P. Behenna had undergone a "retraining" process after he allegedly harassed a Black graduate student working under him. Behenna has been the subject of series of similar complaints.

Police and security officials interviewed during the past week were unaware of an internal retraining procedure, but were able to outline the annual training program for Harvard security guards.

For one week each year, usually in the summer, Harvard security guards are taken off their posts and put through a 40-hour program which includes CPR, first aid, operation of fire alarms and fire extinguishers, and speeches on everything from incident reports to gay rights.

The annual training sessions parallel the instruction that new guards receive. A new guard is considered a "trainee" during the first six months on the job, a probation period during which they may be fired for any reason.