Witzel later threatened to sue Sarah LeVine, agraduate student who recorded the minutes of themeeting.

In a newsletter to graduate students, Witzelwrote that "[u]nfortunately, an immediate concernis one that mostly is one of your own making. Irefer, of course, to the Graduate Student meetingof December 15 and the so-called 'minutes' thatyour volunteer 'reporter', Ms. S. LeVine, hasproduced."

"The 'minutes' do more damage to the Departmentthan the incessant rumor mongering of the past twoyears. In fact, great and irreparable damage hasalready been done," Witzel wrote.

Witzel also wrote that "[a]s agreed by DeanKnowles and me last Summer, I will, as of January30, return to teaching and research, after havingbeen an administrator since July 1987."

Witzel wrote in the next newsletter, inFebruary, that "several times I have asked you asa group and the 'reporter' as an individual toclarify or revoke them. Nothing has been doneabout this, though I know that some of you havewritten to the Deans about the matter. As the caseremains unresolved, and from all that I hear willremain so, I am no longer prepared to serve as theDirector of Graduate Studies."

According to LeVine at the February graduatestudents meeting, Wolff and the University's"Legal Counsel" told Witzel that he should not suea student, since students' freedom to criticizeteachers is protected within the University.

Eric D. Mortensen, a graduate studentmoderating the meeting, read a statement Witzelhad instructed be read, saying that "there is nolawsuit yet," and that he and Garzilli had"separate issues, procedures, aims, lawyers, andshould not be grouped together."

Witzel's statement also said that "his personalchampionship of Mrs. Garzilli is an attempt torectify the harm James Benson did to her in thepast, and to make up for the administration'sfailure to defend her at that time. This is anissue with a history."

Mortensen said, according to the minutes, that"the roles of scholar and professor wereindivisible."

"Thus in the view of some students the factthat, as a scholar, Professor Witzel did good workdid not exonerate him from, as a professor,intimidating students," the minutes continue. "Aprofessor should be encouraging his students'intellectual development, not threatening themwith libel suits!"

Mortensen wrote in a letter to graduatestudents that the matter of the December minutes"has caused folks to consult legal counsel, GlenWallis has formally resigned as yourrepresentative, there are students who are furious(or have at least "had it") with other students,folks are not speaking to each other, andaccusations and threats continue to fill theambiance of the Sanskrit scene at Harvard. This ismassively sad."

The Plaintiff

Although Witzel is not a party in the lawsuit,the case reflects the scholarly and personaldivisions in the Department.

In her suit, Garzilli alleges that Eck said ata Department meeting that "the 'Harvard community'does not want Dr. Garzilli."

When asked why Eck and Bol would want to harmGarzilli, as she alleges in her complaint, Homansresponded: "That's the $64,000 question. We havenever been able to figure out a motive."