Giannino said he still hoped for anadministration response. "I know [Mansfield] has aright to free speech, but the University shouldpublicly deplore his statements," Giannino said.

Cohen, who introduced the idea for the rally atBGLSA's Wednesday meeting, also said she wasdisappointed that the University had decided tostay quiet so far, In an interview, she challengedMansfield to substantiate his claim.

The members of Peninsula in the audience forthe Widener protest said they attended to see whatthe rally would be like.

Christopher B. Brown '94, senior council memberof Peninsula, said he was not impressed.

"Compared to he rally against Peninsula a fewyears ago, this rally was laughably small," Brownsaid. "We could easily get more conservativestogether if we did this sport of thing."

Audience members for the protest seemedsympathetic to the BGLSA's stance.

"I think [the protesters'] point is veryreasonable and should be made, but I'm surprisedthere weren't more people watching," Julie C. Suk'97 said.

Another bystander, Eliot House tutor David D.Kane, said he takes no sides on such issues.

"This is what a university is all about," hesaid. "One group of people on the steps of Widenersaying one thing and then another group getting upand saying another."

First-year students in the Union seemedsupportive of the BGLSA protest, and the groupgathered scattered applause for its announcementthere.

"I thought it was good," said J. Lewis Ford'97. "They have a lot of issues they have toconfront and they showed a lot of cohesion andunity standing up.