"I think it's incumbent on any director to know who those [authorized] people are," Smith said. "It's their responsibility to know who in their camp can drive."

Nero said she did not tell the board of Osborne's driving because she feared Administrative Board action would be taken against Osborne as well.

"At the time there was no way I could put somebody else in that position," Nero said. "As director of my program, I also try to protect my counselors and my kids. [Osborne] did a dumb thing, but her Harvard education should not be put at risk any more than mine should."

When interviewed Wednesday, Osborne declined to say whether she had driven at Nero's request while uncertified.

"With respect to myself, I would never ever breach PBH policy unless I was led to believe that it was okay by somebody who had led me to believe that they had the authority to do so," Osborne said.

Osborne said she did not feel that she was in any danger of being disciplined.

"I've spoken with Harvetta, and I've told her that she needs to take care of herself," she said. "I did not think that I needed protection because I did not do anything wrong."

But after Nero acknowledged that the counselor had driven while uncertified, Osborne called The Crimson yesterday and contradicted the secretary's story.

"Harvetta Nero did in fact know that I had not passed that test," Osborne said. "Any driving I did subsequent to not passing the test was only done because I had been given authorization to do so."

Osborne said she believed Nero was using her to distract the board from a more serious charge: that the secretary deliberately disobeyed Smith's orders.

"That's all bogus because Harvetta knows that I didn't do anything wrong," Osborne said. "I think that may even be a smokescreen to direct attention away from the issue which is, 'Did Harvetta herself drive after she was told by a member of the University not to do so?' That has nothing to do with me."

Osborne also said that she was not the only uncertified counselor to drive in Nero's program. She refused to elaborate, however.

'Staff-Student Power Nexus'

Although the PBHA board has outlined a list of charges, Nero said personality conflicts and power struggles are the reasons behind the impeachment effort.

Nero said Smith exceeded his authority as a staff member in the student-run association by writing a letter to her senior tutor.