PSLM Protests Search Process

Lawrence H. Summers, soon to be the 27th president of Harvard, received an abrupt introduction to campus politics yesterday, when about 30 students protested outside of the press conference announcing his official selection.

More than two dozen members of the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM)--who organized via e-mail with only a few hours' notice--waved signs and banged on recycling bin drums in front of Loeb House, garnering extensive media coverage during the hour-long event.

The student protestors were audible from inside the conference as they called for a less secretive presidential search process and a living wage for all Harvard workers.

At the press conference, Summers drew a laugh by responding to one question about search procedure by saying, "I think it would ill become me at this point to criticize the selection process."

In response to a press conference question about the protests, Summers said he anticipated meeting with the Undergraduate Council and other student organizations to gauge undergraduates' concerns.

"I expect over time to meet widely with different groups," he said.

PSLM will also hold a rally this afternoon to protest both the process by which Summers was selected and the presidential designee's record on labor issues.

Despite the hasty nature of yesterday's action, the impromptu rally received widespread attention from members of the national press gathered to cover the official announcement. At one point, a few photographers inside the conference turned away from the podium to capture the events on the lawn outside.

The rally received mention on all major wire services, and PSLM members appeared on local newscasts to air their views.

"Really, we owe the good fortune of massive publicity to the Harvard Corporation," said Benjamin L. McKean '02, a member of PSLM. "I think it's really amazing what we pulled off in two hours."

The students held signs addressing Summers as they circled in front of Loeb House and neighboring Lamont Library.

Protesters handed out pink flyers with Summers' picture, asking "Did you elect this man? Who did?" and announcing today's rally.

But when PSLM members began chanting, the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) told the students that they could not block the sidewalk--and could only continue the protest if they kept moving.

At one point, as protesters marched up the Loeb House walkway, a HUPD officer threatened to arrest the students for disorderly conduct.

"I'm trying to be nice to you guys. Let's keep this peaceful," he said. "If you don't keep moving, people are going to get arrested."

McKean said he hopes Summers is listening to the student protestors also.

"We hope he takes it to mean that the secretive search process isn't the way to run things," McKean said. "What we're issuing is not a challenge but an invitation."

--Staff writer Daniela J. Lamas can be reached at lamas@fas.harvard.edu.