However, except for stories on National Public Radio and in The Boston Globe, and a brief in The New York Times, PSLM had little success in attracting media attention. No television news crews have expressed interest in the story, according to University spokesperson Joe Wrinn.

Take Me to Your Leader

Since its birth, PSLM has never had an official hierarchy of officers or leaders. And in the past, the communal nature has worked well for the group-but the lack of a single voice has led to contention during their occupation of Mass. Hall.

Throughout, PSLM has tried to conduct business by consensus, with each of the three “affinity groups” inside the building meeting to decide the group’s stance on issues ranging from sleeping conditions to whether protesters can engage police in conversation. Then, once each group has decided, spokespeople from each group meet to decide on tactics.

Similarly, negotiations with police and administrators are carried out in front of the entire group-with any student free to speak up and veto the negotiations.

Harvard Police cut off negotiations with protesters yesterday morning, in part because officers could not figure out with whom they needed to negotiate.

And as the occupation continues, some protesters themselves are becoming frustrated with the governance-by-consensus, with group meetings increasingly devolving into personal squabbles as the occupation wears on.