The occupation of Massachusetts Hall by the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) has now become one of the longest sit-ins in the University's history-and administrators are still debating their options as the stand-off moves into its fifth day.
The most unlikely option, administrators agree, is that University will grant the protesters' demands and offer workers' the "living wage" of $10.25 an hour.
"We're certainly not going to speak to them while they're occupying a building," University Spokesperson Joe Wrinn said yesterday.
With the administration ignoring the protesters' demands for negotiations, the stand-off appears as if it might drag on indefinitely. University administrators have been meeting daily, in person and over the phone and e-mail to discuss the developing situation and weigh possible options. For now, Harvard police chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley and Associate Dean of the College David P. Illingworth '71 have been left with day-to-day control of the situation.
In addition to trying to talk out the situation, administrators have a myriad of options-ranging from letting the protesters stay in Mass. Hall until the summer to sending the police in and arresting everyone, as the University did back in 1969.
What will happen in the coming days hinges on a variety of factors: the protesters' conduct inside the building, their stamina for the protest and public response to the Living Wage Campaign, among others.
All sides involved said the University would take no action against the protesters during pre-frosh weekend, which ends today.
According to administrators, the situation in the building is growing increasingly tense, with secretaries and police facing harassment from protesters. One secretary was compared to a "Nazi" by protesters and another had to leave work early on Friday after being harassed by protesters.
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