BY DAN
KENNEDY
Notes and observations on
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See the World Through My Daughter's Eyes (Rodale, October 2003),
click
here.
Wednesday, July 30, 2003
Harvard's secret police. The
Globe's Jenna
Russell reports today that
the Harvard Crimson is suing the university to gain access to
the campus police log -- a public record under Massachusetts law, but
Harvard is claiming an exemption on the grounds that it is a private
institution.
The students argue, logically
enough, that since Harvard police officers have the power of arrest,
they should be held to the same standard as police officers
everywhere.
Here's some background. On July 11,
the Crimson reported that the Harvard police were
cutting
back on the amount of
information they would release to the public -- and thus, by
extension, to the paper.
Then, on July 18, the
Crimson reported that the police had decided to
loosen
up a bit, although they
were still refusing to release as much information as they had
before. Among the forbidden news: reports of attempted suicide and
sexual assault.
Suppressing such news would appear
to be more about protecting Harvard's image than about any legitimate
police function.
As civil-liberties lawyer and
Phoenix contributor Harvey Silverglate told the
Crimson, "You would think that if they're really professional
they would act like real police officers."
posted at 8:38 AM |
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MEDIA LOG ARCHIVES
Dan Kennedy is senior writer and media critic for the Boston Phoenix.
