Police Officers Swarm Mather

Department remains mum on reason for ‘ongoing investigation’

By Emily J. Hogan, Crimson Staff Writer February 23, 2009

Harvard University Police Department officers sat stationed outside of Mather 416 for most of Saturday.

“There is an active investigation going on,” Steven G. Catalano, a spokesman for HUPD, wrote in an e-mail. “We are not releasing any information about our response to Mather House on Saturday morning.”

Students closest to the situation have largely been unwilling to comment, but other Mather residents described investigative activity throughout the day.

A security guard in Mather reportedly saw a police officer stationed outside of the room as early as 5 a.m., according to Mather resident Michael F. Qian ’11.

“The cops in our hallway...patrolled the area all day, and I think asked a few kids if they attended a party there last night,” wrote Jasmine J. Rencher ’11 in an e-mailed statement.

William C. Schaub ’11 said he saw two people wearing rubber gloves enter the room around 4 p.m.

Qian said he saw a larger group of people—some in law enforcement uniforms—entering the room around 8 p.m. All were wearing blue rubber gloves. One person carried a piece of paper, and another had a camera around his neck.

Qian said that he returned to his dorm approximately one hour after he left and that there was no longer a HUPD officer sitting outside at this time.

Police presence around Mather on Saturday was not confined to the fourth floor.

Tyler R. Goin ’09 of Mather House saw three girls entering a police car parked on Copperwaithe St. at approximately 4 a.m. Saturday morning. The three were aided to the car by two males.

Mather House Masters Sandra Naddaff and Leigh Hafrey could not be reached for comment.

—Staff writer Emily J. Hogan can be reached at ejhogan@fas.harvard.edu.