Harvard takes heat for taking secret classroom photos

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Faculty and students are criticizing Harvard University for secretly photographing about 2,000 students in 10 lecture halls last spring as part of a study on classroom attendance.

The experiment was disclosed publicly for the first time at a faculty meeting Tuesday.

Harvard computer science professor Harry Lewis says he learned about the study from two colleagues and asked administrators about it during the meeting.

"You should do studies only with the consent of the people being studied," he told The Boston Globe.

Harvard administrators say students and teachers were not notified because researchers did not want to introduce potential bias into the study. Vice Provost Peter Bol says he ordered the images destroyed.

President Drew Faust said she takes the matter seriously and will have the case reviewed.

Students also criticized the photos.

"It is especially troubling in light of the fact that these instances of surveillance occurred not long after the university claimed to be placing more emphasis on ensuring the privacy of its students and staff," junior Brett Biebelberg told the Globe via email.