The blacks crowded in through the door and pushed past five Harvard policemen who attempted to block their way. Once inside, the students filtered upstairs into the offices of the Deans.
At the time, Dean May was teaching a class and not in the building. He had, however, called five Faculty members around 10 a.m,. asking them to be in University Hall in the event of a take-over.
"We were informed of the take-over and told we could stay in the building if we wanted to," Edward T. Wilcox, head of the General Education program said.
Within 15 minutes, all of the secretaries had left the building, chains were strung along all four doors leading outside and the protestors had locked themselves into May's office.
University police also attempted to stop students from barricading the northeast door. After a brief tugging match, the doors were locked, but one black policeman slipped through.