"I hadn't known about it ahead of time," she says. "But the speeches being given on the steps...were encouraging people to take this action."

Elizabeth was one of the hundreds who entered the hall once it was cleared of Harvard personnel. She had supported the idea of a takeover all along, so she had no trouble walking in with the rest.

The atmosphere in the occupied building was serious, she says, as students began to recognize the gravity of what was occurring.

"People were aware that there was some danger, that the University could very well call in the police," she says. "They were aware that there was a counter-rally outside of students who were opposed to the takeover--it seemed very small, but it was very noisy."

Although her husband says the crowd was "probably more men than women," Elizabeth says she saw as many women as men.

Inside, she headed upstairs to the Faculty Room, where James had helped disrupt a Faculty meeting the previous December. Amid the paintings and marble busts of famous Harvard men, the students held a planning meeting that went on all day.

One of the first issues they confronted was whether to ban marijuana from the occupied building--several students lit up joints as soon as they got inside. The Kilbreths both supported the decision not to allow marijuana.

"We had enough to worry about without having drugs," James says.

Although police quickly closed the Yard, students flowed in and out all day.

"It didn't feel like being in an encampment or a besieged building," Elizabeth says.

James went outside several times to talk to hesitant supporters on the lawn--the crowd outside had swelled to thousands of activists and curious onlookers. He also left to buy food for the students, clambering over the gate after dark to avoid the barricades. Elizabeth stayed in the Faculty Room meet- ing all afternoon.

The Bust

As night fell, the students inside could seepolice from nearby towns as well as state trooperscollecting everywhere. The occupiers chained therest of the doors and the debate in the FacultyRoom gained intensity--should they fight back orresist non-violently?

Though a few students tried to sleep, James andElizabeth stayed up all night. Outside, thousandsmore kept vigil on the steps.

Around 3 a.m., students got word that thepolice were massing for attack. Most collected onthe first floor, packed shoulder to shoulder inthe hallways. Then police wearing riot helmetsbegan to batter down the door, removing the chainwith a special saw.

In the darkness and tumult, Elizabeth and Jamesremember certain details differently--he recallsthe police entering from the Widener side, whileshe says they swept in next to the John Harvardstatue. But they both agree that the violence leftthem confused and frightened.