While administrators continue to refuse to negotiate with the 37 students occupying Massachusetts Hall, both student protesters and the University have publicized their competing claims through a flurry of press releases since the start of the sit-in one week ago.

The most striking discrepancy in the information disseminated by the University and student activists concerns the number of workers earning less than a living wage of $10.25 per hour.

While University officials say 400 workers earn less than the living wage figure, Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) members maintain that more than 1,000 workers earn wages below the poverty level.

In addition, PSLM members and University officials argue over the provisions of a report released last spring by the University, calling for an increase of worker benefits but denying the efficacy of a wage increase.

Protesters charge that the report is inadequate, and contend that the University has failed to heed its own recommendations.

University officials counter the report’s provisions are quite substantial, and are being implemented.

Neither side has backed down from its claims during the ongoing occupation of Mass. Hall, now entering its eighth day.

The Numbers Game