Earlier in the afternoon, at about 1.30 p.m. some of the students got into an argument with two South African tourists. "Taking your money out of South Africa isn't going to help the Blacks. It's just going to put more out of work and make them more hungry and more upset," said one of the tourists.

"Every country has got its problems," said the South African, who refused to be identified. "You can blow any problem out of size."

"I think it's scary that they could think that," said Funmi B. Arewa '85. But, she added, "[they] see it from a certain perspective and [they] are not going to see mine."

After dark, the protestors spread sleeping bags across the sidewalk, brought in Chinese food from the Hong Kong restaurant, cases of Budweiser and settled down for the night.

Tonight's rally is sponsored by 12 student groups from the College and Law School but none endorsed the vigil. Ball said the protectors were wary of linking any specific group to the action in case any of the demonstrators were arrested.

During the afternoon, University Police kept the protestors under discreet but noticeable surveillance. The door to Mass Hall is usually open but it was locked throughout the afternoon and visitors had to pass through a security guard.

When Steiner met with the group in from of the building a policeman stood about 20 feet away at the corner of Mass Hall.

Steiner escorted Bok from the building and out of the Yard but returned a few minutes later to talk to the students.

"The President would be happy to meet and talk but he really doesn't feel that the way to exchange views is to stand up in front of a group of people." Steiner said.

"The thought of him getting him to a meeting with 300 people who disagree with him--that will not shed light on the issue."

"He has expressed his views in public and feels that is sufficient." Steiner added.

Ball asked Steiner whether the fact that 300 advocates of divestiture would attend such a meeting while only a few would speak against it was not an indication that most of the University community favors the move.

Steiner replied, "I doubt it, frankly." He said. "The people who advocate change are usually the ones who attend."

Steiner said repeatedly that Bok would be willing to respond to student opinions in writing or meet with small groups behind closed doors, but demonstrators argued that that was not sufficient.

"I think that he has a responsibility to talk in a public environment," said Melissa A Milligan '84.

Bok's reluctance to debate publicly is a key issue for the demonstrators Silvers said the protestors felt that while both sides are able to put out literature detailing their positions it does not amount to an "intellectual inter change."

"I'm more interested in laying the issues out so we have a real debate instead of this sort of naval barrage where one side fires a salvo and the other answers." Silvers added.

"Dialogue does not means position, papers, it means something akin to a seminar where ideas are exchanged in close proximity," he said.

However, Steiner said that any such meeting would have to come at the discretion of the president. "If he is the decision maker in the case he should decide which discussions which will cast light on the things he thinks are most important." Steiner said. "He's not up for grabs for you.