Four graduate students said they believeWitzel's firm support of Garzilli has hurt hisstanding in the department.

One graduate student said, according toFebruary meeting minutes, that the department "isnow thought of all over the country as a locus ofgreat conflict and disorganization..."

Of the nine graduate students contacted by TheCrimson, four spoke against Witzel, four refusedto comment, and one spoke in his favor.

In addition, one undergraduate alumna calledThe Crimson and spoke against Witzel, and HowardResnick, a graduate student, called and voiced hissupport.

All of the graduate students who spoke againstWitzel spoke on condition of anonymity, sayingthey feared retaliation if their names werepublished.

Two graduate students interviewed said Witzelis not to blame for the department's disarray.

Carlos Lopez, president of the graduate studentcouncil, said that his experience in thedepartment has been excellent, although he saysthat there is some friction at the faculty level.

"I think a lot of things here are hearsayrumors that students are going on without lookingat the work," said Lopez, who is Witzel's advisee.

The graduate students are divided over Witzel,Lopez said, with about two thirds against him andone third in favor.

Most graduate students interviewed said thatonly three or four students, including Lopez, arein favor of Witzel.

Four graduate students interviewed by TheCrimson said that Witzel should lose his tenureand be removed from the University.

Garzilli was not the first person whom Witzelbrought into the department and with whom anunusual situation developed, students say.

Homans says that in the past he represented aman whom Witzel had allowed into the departmentand who was subsequently ordered to leave.

Students said they found the man disruptive anddid not understand why he was there.

The graduate students held a meeting inDecember and took notes which they sent to Wolff.The minutes said they did not record the names ofstudents who spoke for "fear of retribution."