Tufts President Backs Protesters

After less than 36 hours of protesting, Tufts student activists got their way yesterday when university President John DiBiaggio issued a letter supporting the protestors' interpretation of the university's non-discrimination policy.

At 7:30 last night, the protestors, who had occupied the campus's admissions building, ended their sit-in after receiving DiBiaggio's letter, which affirmed that the school's non-discrimination policy protects students from discrimination based on self-acceptance.

After a 34-hour sit-in, the students exited Bendetson Hall chanting, "We got our policy, you got Bendetson," while a crowd of about 100 onlookers cheered the outcome.

Tufts student Courtney Young, who had been inside Bendetson, gave a statement for the group, followed by a brief statement from Tufts history professor Jonathan Strong '66.

"We are happy to report that the negotiations were successful," Young said in her statement. "I would like to emphasize that Tufts has a rigorous and comprehensive non-discrimination policy."

Though the students did not leave the building until 7:30 p.m., the dispute reached its conclusion at 4:30 when Dean of Students Bruce Reitman informed the students inside the building that DiBiaggio had drafted a letter clarifying the school's policy.

"We were able to get the wording proposed to him, and the exact wording that we used, he accepted," said Adam Carlis, a Tufts student who had been in the negotiations.

The students met with DiBiaggio at 1:30 p.m. yesterday for 30 minutes. According to Carlis, the students suggested how DiBiaggio should word his statement.

DiBiaggio left the meeting to consider the students' requests. At 4:30 p.m., Reitman informed the students that DiBiaggio had accepted their wording.

Soon after his decision, DiBiaggio released a letter, saying, "I affirm that the nondiscrimination policy is understood to include such self-acceptance of identity," the exact wording the students had suggested.

The letter was sent out in a mass e-mail message to all Tufts students. According to Young, the administrators agreed to post the letter on Reitman's website, as well as including it in the "Confronting Intolerance" brochure that is given to all first-year students.

Students' relations with the police and administration were courteous and respectful throughout the takeover, according to students involved.

"[Tufts Police Department Captain] John King thanked us for being particularly respectful of the police force," said Daniel J. Barry, a student inside Bendetson. "We developed a pretty good rapport with the police."

Students also praised both DiBiaggio and Reitman for their responsible handling of the situation.

"[DiBiaggio] was very polite," Barry said. "He apologized for not seeing us yesterday. We sat down and cut straight to the chase."

Barry also praised Reitman for his skills as a moderator.

"It helped the whole process go smoothly," he said.

During the 34 hours that protestors occupied Bendetson, there were always students gathered outside, offering emotional support, those involved said.

"There were people inside risking arrest; the least we could do was sleep in the cold to offer support," said Laurie R. Bishop, a student who spent Tuesday night sleeping in a tent outside Bendetson.

The students outside maintained rotating solidarity shifts, in part to defend against an arrest during the night. Students feared that the police would take advantage of the absence of media to make an arrest late in the evening.

"People inside had a real fear that they would be arrested during the night because that was when the crowds and media weren't around," said Laura M. Kerivan, a student who slept outside. "Every time the police stopped by checking up on things, we brought out video cameras and gathered people around."

Students inside also planned how to react to a late night arrest.

"We were going to sit in a group, link arms and go limp, and they would have to drag us out," Carlis said.

But by morning, it became clearer to students that they would not be arrested.

At about 11 a.m. yesterday, the students outside had a run-in with an unnamed Tufts student who tried to disrupt the action. According to Kerivan the individual shouted racist and homophobic slurs.

"He ran through the banners and ripped the strings," Kerivan said. "He later returned with a Swiss army knife and tried to cut down the signs."

According to witnesses, police took the student's ID number and had witnesses give official statements about what had happened.

"That reaffirmed for the group that this is why we are here," said Barry.

Outside of that single incident, students were very happy with the events of the past two days.

"I think this shows that you can effect change through activism," Barry said. "It's a valid means of expression. It's a valid means of communication."