Early the Afternoon of  April 28th, Mike Grant, featured here: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/3/23/leverett-mike/ was working his usual post at Leverett House, as he has for nearly a decade.

Fast forward a week, and he is now 'under investigation' and has a disciplinary meeting to defend his job, tomorrow, Friday, May 5th, with Alonzo B. Herring (alonzo.herring@securitasinc.com), at 342 Broadway in Cambridge, MA. He will not be paid for his time in attending this meeting although everyone else in the room will be.

Mike Grant has cooperated fully in this 'investigation', provided a detailed draft statement even against the advisement of his friends after being told to do so by FAS Area Manager Robert M. Sabater (Rob.Sabater@securitasinc.com) in the Science Center Basement.

So, what is being 'investigated' exactly?

FACTS:

Mike Grant was called on his personal cell phone while at work, not by his Securitas supervisor, or account manager, but by a Harvard Building Manager who stated the Leverett Faculty Deans wanted Mike Grant to physically take a grill being used in the courtyard away from students.

Mohamed Zaker (mohamed_zaker@harvard.edu), a Harvard University Building Manager at Leverett House, has a documented history of communication and attitude issues with students and staff on site over the course of his brief time there. As the individual allegations and accounts of his behavior accrue, something must be done.

Mr. Zaker is one of two former janitorial supervisors suddenly elevated to Building Managers, hired on recently. Both share tumultuous tenures in the area - the other one recently having left Dunster House after a brief stint as Building Manager, for greener pastures after a rash of interpersonal issues with students and staff took place there.

Mike Grant was informed by Mr. Zaker that the taking of the grill was what the Leverett Faculty Deans wanted done, a new policy after years of gathering and grilling outside in the Spring at Leverett.

However, it has come to light the Deans did not in fact order the confiscation of student property and the Building Manager intentionally misrepresented that fact by lying about what the Deans had indicated to him regarding the grill.

In addition, it has come to light Mr. Zaker had taken the grill from the same group of students the previous year without permission or notice after they left it outside to safely cool down one evening during the previous year. It was reported missing, then stolen at that time. Only later was it discovered hidden away in storage by security on site.

After the group of students peacefully and respectfully provided Mike Grant with clear evidence that the grill belonged to them and that it was their personal property - Mike Grant relayed the information to the building manager, stating that he was not authorized to physically take a student's personal property under any circumstance.

He was then belittled and berated by Mr. Zaker, a former janitorial supervisor recently promoted to Building Manager who repeatedly antagonized Mike Grant over refusing to confiscate what he had evidence of being student's personal property.

Mr. Zaker then screamed at Mike Grant over the phone so loud it could be heard as far as Cowperwaite Street on the speakerphone: 

"What do I have you there for if you don't do as I tell you?"
"I'll send Ever Martinez over to take the grill from them if you can't do your job!"  "Take the f-cking grill, if they give you any trouble, call HUPD! It's simple Mike"

The last line is especially harmful, as it speaks to an irate Harvard University Building Manager attempting to incite a possible situation between HUPD and students over their own property.

Mr. Zaker then stated: "That's why you're just a guard, you know that right? Can't even do your own job!"

We all know Mike Grant does a great job, and pours his heart into Leverett House, even as it crumbles in mismanagement and disrepair in obvious neglect as compared to other Houses on campus. 

All signatures are confidential, only the total number will be shared. 

In the meantime, 

Feel free to email the following interested parties in this case:

Associate Director of Residential Facilities (Building Manager's Boss):

Nancy Hodge (nhodge@fas.harvard.edu)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyannhodge/

Nancy Malvarosa Hodge (@hodgiemama)

https://www.instagram.com/hodgiemama/?hl=en

Leverett House Interim Resident Dean:

John Nowak (leveretthousedean@fas.harvard.edu)

The Leverett House Interim Faculty Deans:

Eileen Reynolds (eileen_reynolds@fas.harvard.edu)

Daniel Deschler (daniel_deschler@fas.harvard.edu)

Securitas Director at Harvard Christopher Connolly (Chris.Connolly@securitasinc.com)

Labor Relations Director at HarvardAlonzo Herring (Alonzo.Herring@securitasinc.com)

in support if you know Mike or feel so inclined. 

Mike Grant can also be reached for comment at mbentley817@yahoo.com.

Mike Grant has supported members of our Harvard community during each year of his service to us at Harvard University.

It's our distinct pleasure, and our turn, to return the favor in supporting him.

Keep Mike Grant at Leverett!

He's done nothing wrong and is a boon to the community here. Some have remarked he has helped keep Leverett's spirits up in the wake of recent events (swatting of dorm room: https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/4/20/swatting-incident-student-letter/

If anyone is owed an apology and deserves a promotion to Lead Guard in recognition of his service to students & staff at Harvard University and a citation for refusing an illegal order to physically take a student's personal property, it's Mike Grant here. He saved both his employer and the University a lot in terms of both resources and liability by refusing to do what he was yelled at to do and then ridiculed when he said no.

We stand together in support of an inclusive and kind community at Harvard, that should not tolerate abuse of third party contractors, no matter who their boss is.

Stand by for regular updates, we will bring you the latest updates below: