But the administration called a meeting to discuss the cartoon, with HBS Dean Kim B. Clark ’74, Merrick, Kester and Nelson present.

“We concluded that the phrase ‘incompetent morons’ was deeply hurtful and demoralizing for the career services staff,” Kester said.

“We then agreed that it would be useful for one of us to sit down and informally talk with the editors about why we felt the cartoon pushed the boundaries of normal discourse, and to urge them to employ greater care with satire,” he said.

The group selected Nelson, who called Will into his office for a 7 a.m. meeting last Monday.

At the meeting, Nelson issued a “verbal warning,” the first step in the HBS Community Standards disciplinary process, Will reported in his resignation letter.

But the meeting was supposed to be kept unofficial, according to Kester.

“Our understanding was that the meeting [between Nelson and Will] was going to be informal and strictly verbal—nothing would appear on student records,” Kester said.

“Anytime someone is treated disrespectfully, rarely do these violations translate into more than a casual conversation. It would be incorrect to think of the meeting [between the editors and Nelson] as the first step of a disciplinary process, or as the triggering or escalating anything,” he added.

According to Will’s resignation letter, Nelson warned him at the meeting that he “could be called in for further action in the future which could register on [his] personal student record.”

Miscommunication between the deans on the subject seems to be part of the issue.

“We all agreed to say nothing that could be construed as intervening with the content of the paper, or the content of articles regarding Career Services,” said Kester. “We wanted to narrowly focus our message on the impact of those two words.”

Clark agreed, adding that the administration did not want to encroach on The Harbus’ editorial policy.

“I think that the University should have no control over what The Harbus prints. We support freedom of expression and free inquiry,” Clark said.

But according to Will’s letter, this was not the view Nelson expressed in their meeting.

“He suggested I steer clear of all questionable content in further issues,” Will wrote.