The day the Crimson article came out, Annenberg Manager Kay D’Andria told the dining hall staff not to talk about

the article with Houston.

“It goes to not giving him a hostile workplace,” HUDS Director of Marketing and Communications Alix McNitt said.

Houston said the article actually improved his relationship with his coworkers. They already knew why he had come to Harvard and would kid him about it, he says.

But in the past few weeks, “their respect has grown,” he said.

It’s not entirely clear what the HUDS policy regarding their employees’ speech is.

“[Houston] is entitled to say what he needs to say as an American,” McNitt said in an interview with The Crimson two weeks ago. “He has every right to say what he needs to say and feel whatever he wants to feel.”

But this week, she declined to comment on Houston.

And HUDS Executive Director Ted A. Mayer wrote yesterday in an e-mail that “neither the University nor HUDS has a specific, written policy regarding employee speech. Issues get resolved on a case-by-case basis.”

He declined to comment on Houston.

The Voice

Houston said he wasn’t aware of the United Ministry investigation or the College investigation before being contacted by The Crimson.

“No one has called me about anything,” he said.

“Don’t these people have better things to do than discuss a newspaper article because certain people are offended?” Houston asked.

“There is nothing to complain about,” he added.