Leif Utne and Mike Nolan, two UMass-Amherst students, opened the rally donning masks of Dole and Gingrich, respectively, and delivering a sarcastic speech about why cuts to student aid were good for the country. the crowd booed resoundingly and eventually broke out into a "Bob Dole sucks" chant.

(By the end of the afternoon, Utne had scrawled "I suck" on the face of the Gingrich mask and "Fuck Newt" on the backside.)

Another student carried a sign reading "Hey Newt Get your slimy hands off my diploma." still another waved a banner saying, "Weld, not all of us were born with a silver spoon in out mouths," in reference to Massachusetts Gov. William F. weld '66, also a Republican.

Other signs such as "Wat doo yoo mene Kutbaks?" addressed the issue on a more direct level.

Harvard

The Harvard contingent was relatively quiet, but the turnout of around 40 was must larger than that of similar rallies in the past.

The Undergraduate Council, the Harvard-Radcliffe College Democrats and the Progressive Action Network (PAN) were all represented at the rally.

"I thought Harvard's participation...was quite impressive, especially considering that it was from 10 to 2 on a Tuesday during midterm season," said Scott L. Shuchart '97. "It was a very good showing on a rally of that size."

The council's participation and $100 contribution marked a new interest in activism for the organization.

Several council members mentioned on occasion last spring when a group approached the council about sponsoring a similar rally to protest projected cuts.

"The U.C. sort of felt like it wasn't the body; it didn't think it was their job to do that, and I think [yesterday's participation] shows growth in the breadth of the issues that the U.C. is willing to do," said council Treasurer Edward B. Smith Ill '97, a participant of the rally.

And other students pointed to a renewed interest in activism on the part of student in general. PAN cofounder Eric D. Albert '98 pointed to the contrast between yesterday's protest and a similar rally held in Boston last spring to protest Gingrich's "Contract with America."

Only about five Harvard student showed up at that demonstration, Albert said.

"Together with the U.C., we were able to publicize this rally the way that no political issue has been publicized in years, and the response we got is that Harvard is rejecting its apathetic past," Albert said