For the 46 members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) occupying Massachusetts Hall and the core of supporters outside, yesterday, the second day of the group’s sit-in became trying as the University maintained its position that it would not cave to demands for a living wage.

University administrators refused to negotiate yesterday with the student activists, who demand a living wage of $10.25 per hour for all Harvard employees. PSLM members were finally told late yesterday afternoon that one of University President Neil L. Rudenstine’s assistants was trying to schedule a meeting for the student protesters.

But PSLM’s tactics are beginning to alienate some fellow students, particularly first-years in surrounding Yard dorms and some of the 24 students living upstairs from the occupied portion of Mass. Hall.

A debate on the Harvard Hillel email list yesterday questioned whether to withdraw Hillel’s endorsement of the PSLM’s living wage campaign.

Moshe Y. Spinowitz ’02 initiated the email discussion, and said that while he was originally a supporter of the campaign, the tactics of the past two days have forced him to reconsider.

“Disregarding, for the moment, the merits of the cause, Hillel should not be in the business of endorsing groups involved in illegal activities—especially those directed against the university,” Spinowitz wrote.

Mass. Hall residents say they have been forced to call Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) at least a dozen times to request relief from PSLM’s chanting.

A group of about 20 frustrated students, most of them first-years, organized a counter-protest yesterday evening to criticize the PSLM’s methods. They walked silently past the picketers in front of Mass. Hall, holding signs reading, “Stand Strong, Rudenstine” and “PSLM: Being a Nuisance Since 1:23 p.m. Wednesday.”