But Herms stands by his analysis.

“Harvard has the highest crime rate reported of the comparison schools. My organization is addressing the causes of that, and it’s also providing short-term remedies until the root problems are addressed,” Herms says. “We have more inside information on Harvard safety than HUPD does.”

OFF CAMPUS

Though his group investigates the security of students at Harvard, Herms is prohibited from stepping on campus.

Harvard issued Herms a trespass order for the entire campus in Fall 2003.

According to a letter from the University to Herms’ attorney which Herms gave to The Crimson, his official restriction from Harvard property came after a number of individual incidents.

The events, which occurred over a three-year span, included “making in appropriate comments with sexual connotations to students at the Dudley House Co-op, misrepresenting his relationship with the Harvard Security guards and the Committee Against Sexual Violence at Harvard....culminating with Mr. Herms’ solicitation of students to work for him by drinking alcoholic beverages with university police officers.”

Herms says that the Dudley Co-op incident referred to when he suggested that their winter party have a University Health Services licensed massage therapist instead of alcohol.

“It’s certainly very wholesome,” he says. “[I was also accused] of making remarks with a sexual connotation to a Dudley student.”

Herms describes the “culminating” incident as a time when he was looking to hire research associates through Harvard Student Agencies for StalCommPol. Herms says he asked students the question “Can you hold your liquor?” and HUPD, he says, thought this was inappropriate.

Herms says he does not take the resulting trespass order seriously.

“Am I resentful because of that?” Herms says. “It’s a joke, I’ve been on

Harvard property as much since that has been in place as I was before and the Harvard police know it.”

Riley says that HUPD in general takes trespass warnings very seriously.

“To get a no trespass letter, there has to be a concern on our part about the safety, security and ability of our community to work and study unimpeded,” Riley says. “There has to be enough concern there that would require us to do this.”