MATHER HOUSE
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02138

June 12, 2003

HUSPMGU
P.O. Box 321032
Cambridge, MA 02138

To Whom It May Concern:

We would like to voice our strongest support for maintaining the services of William (Billy) Duarte, the evening security guard at Mather House. Billy has served Mather faithfully for the past several years. During his tenure here, he has become an essential part of the community. It is to Billy that we turn when a student group becomes noisy, when a party starts to get out of hand, when an intruder is in our midst. Whatever the situation, Billy handles it with calm, with tact, with humor, and always effectively.

As the Masters of Mather House, we can't underestimate how important it is to have someone like Billy in the position of security guard. He takes his role as a member of this community seriously. He knows every student who passes through our gates by name, knows where they live, knows their social manners and customs. Indeed, it is noteworthy that, whenever Mather House pauses to acknowledge the people who make our community possible, it is Billy Duarte who gets the longest and the loudest applause. He is, in short, absolutely necessary to the smooth and effective running of this House, and we would strongly oppose any changes that would alter his position at Mather. Please don't hesitate to call us if we can offer any further information.

Sandra N. and Leigh H.
Masters, Mather House