When security supervisor Donald P. Behenna was hired as a Harvard security guard in 1980, he almost didn't complete his six month probation period.

In October 1980, Police Sgt. Arthur G. Luongo sent a letter to Behenna warning him that his record of absences was "unacceptable." If Behenna's attendance did not improve, "there is substantial likelihood that you will not be retained by this organization," he wrote.

Behenna eventually passed his probation and became a permanent employee. But it was not the last time Behenna had problems on the job.

His early days at Harvard presaged a career underscored with conflict, and in recent years marked by complaints from minority employees. Despite a series of complaints, Manager of Operations for Security Robert J. Dowling has stood by Behenna, and a recent University probe cleared Behenna of wrongdoing.

This week, another charge of racial harassment against Behenna surfaced in a letter written by a Black Education School student who once worked under him.

The student, Frances C. Ugwuegbu, described a November 25, 1990 confrontation with Behenna which she termed "definitely racial."

She sent a letter of complaint soon afterwards to Dowling. She said Dowling never responded.

The letter is the latest in a series of charges about Behenna's behavior and Dowling's alleged disregard of complaints from minority guards.

Early Days

During his four years as a guard, Behenna had numerous unexcused absences that led to at least two suspensions, according to documents obtained by The Crimson.

One of those suspensions, given in March 1983 for missing work, lasted five days, a penalty which several guards have said is customarily one step short of termination.

In 1981, Behenna, who is white, allegedly engaged in a confrontation with then-security supervisor Robert R. Sutherland. Sutherland, who is Black, said Behenna told him to "fuck off" when he asked him about missing a shift during a telephone call.

According to documents, Sutherland attempted to discipline Behenna for insubordination. Behenna's response was not documented, and it is not known whether he was disciplined.

Behenna also allegedly struck a man on DeWolfe Street in 1983 while he was a guard, a charge that he denies. It is unclear how the charge was investigated or how it was resolved.

In a written statement, Cambridge resident Henry Grodzins said Behenna, without displaying any badge and speaking in a "threatening tone," picked him up and threw him to the ground on DeWolfe Street.