"Now we see that we can get results this way," Vladeck said just before announcing the news to the crowd.

While protesters awaited Shuldiner's return, Harvard Chief of Police Francis D. "Bud" Riley surveyed the relatively peaceful scene. He said he was pleased with the conduct of the protesters through the day, and said the "intelligent" planning of the rally made it easy for everyone involved.

"We're here to make sure they have the right to rally as much as everything else," he said.

Vladeck said she was pleased with the police presence.

"The cops today have been great," she said.

When Vladeck learned via walkie-talkie that Shuldiner had risen to ask his question, she ordered the protesters silent. When he was finished, students resumed their chants.

According to Shuldiner and University Attorney Allan A. Ryan Jr., the noise was loud enough to hear in the Faculty meeting room.

As the closed portion of the Faculty meeting began, in which the Faculty would debate Douglas's future, protesters began to disperse and some moved back to the steps of Memorial Church.

When the Faculty finally emerged from University Hall at around 6:15 p.m., they immediately faced the bright lights of network television cameras. Although none commented for reporters, Epps took a moment to explain the decision to the group of students that was waiting in front of the John Harvard statue.

"We're more thrilled with the process than the results, and the results aren't so bad," Vladeck said. --Jenny E. Heller contributed to the reporting of this article.