Fremont-Smith also ruled that Harvard is liablefor its employees' failure to investigate, butthat Shinagel may not be individually heldresponsible for his actions. And he dismissed theclaims of defamation against Schopf, Ostrowski andShinagel on the grounds that the statements werematters of opinion.
A Great Writer
Members of the Harvard community who arefriends of either Battenfield or Ostrowski remainfiercely loyal. Many of Ostrowski's formerstudents say he is unusually caring and concernedfor his students.
And Lowell Professor of the Humanities,Emeritus William Alfred says he developed greatrespect for Battenfield after she took hisplaywriting class.
"She is one of the best writers of hergeneration," Alfred says. "She is one of thedeftest masters of characterization I have evercome across."
He calls allegations such as those made againsthis former student by Schopf "preposterous." AndAlfred adds that Battenfield is a "woman of honor"who "wouldn't bring charges unless she felt shehad to out of her sense of honor and duty to otherwomen."
But Alfred says he blames the difficultsituation, not Shinagel, for what happened."Shinagel is one of the best administrators atHarvard," he says.
But when there are charges as serious as sexualharassment, "executives in departments tend topretend to be shocked," Alfred says, "but then tryto wait until it blows over."