Campus Debate Rages as Protest Continues

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.), who expressed his support for the living wage campaign at a rally on Friday, will personally meet with University President Neil L. Rudenstine today in Washington at an afternoon reception along with his fellow Harvard graduates serving in Congress.

The Harvard-affiliated members of Congress are also set to receive a letter from AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney urging them to support the 37 members of the Progressive Students Labor Movement (PSLM) who have been occupying Mass. Hall for more than six days in the hope of winning a living wage of at least $10.25 per hour for all Harvard employees.

Kennedy, who will be introducing Rudenstine at today's reception, made an appearance at Mass. Hall following an afternoon rally in the Yard on Friday, and he used the opportunity to pledge to contact Rudenstine about implementing a living wage.

"I'll call. Absolutely," he said.

PSLM member Emilou H. Maclean '01 said Kennedy has made good on his promise-after the rally, Kennedy called and left a message on Rudenstine's voice mail urging the president to implement a living wage.

Maclean said Kennedy's contribution to the campaign has been significant.

"Kennedy has expressed a desire to be heavily involved until the end," she said.

University spokesperson Joe Wrinn confirmed Rudenstine's appearance at the event tomorrow, and said Rudenstine would expect the issue of a living wage to be addressed.

"He's always been willing to talk about the process we went through," Wrinn said. "I'm sure he'd expect something like that."

The sit-in received an additional boost today from the second member of the Mass. senatorial delegation-Sen. John Kerry registered his support for the sit-in yesterday, in addition to Reps. Michael A. Capuano (D-Mass.) and Barney Frank '61 (D-Mass.).

The students occupying the building also gained allies from major sources within the University.

On Monday, all 13 House masters submitted an open letter to the Harvard community urging administrators to negotiate with those inside Mass. Hall, and last night the United Ministry, encompassing virtually every major religious group on campus, voted to endorse the masters' letter. The letter falls short of urging the University to adopt a $10.25 an hour living wage.

The sit-in has also received local political support.

Last night the Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a measure in support of a living wage at Harvard and requested a meeting with Rudenstine to discuss resolution of the sit-in.

Cambridge Mayor Anthony D. Galluccio visited the students occupying the building during a candlelight vigil held last night.

"I have faith that Neil Rudenstine cares about people, and I hope that this will be his legacy," Galluccio said.

Keep On Keepin' On

The action outside Mass. Hall stabilized yesterday, as supporters camped out in "tent city" and professors attempted to teach students occupying the building.

Brett Flehinger, a History lecturer, tried to enter Mass. Hall during the noon rally yesterday, but was stopped by Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) officers. The officers did allow him to pass packets of information to the protesters, including copies of Martin Luther King Jr.'s oft-cited "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" articulating the reasoning behind non-violent civil disobedience.

He then offered an impromptu lecture on "how non-violent protest works."

"It changes the mind of everyone involved," he said.

And later yesterday afternoon, Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures Bradley S. Epps held section outside the windows of Mass. Hall, while HUPD officers looked on, for the benefit of the students occupying the building.

As he lectured, four students performed a string quartet in the sun outside the steps of Mass. Hall in a demonstration of support for the students inside.

The occupation of the administrative building continues to prove troublesome for the residents and staff of Mass. Hall, however.

While neither Rudenstine nor Provost Harvey V. Fineberg '67 came to their Mass. Hall offices today, staff members did report to work despite the continued occupation.

Rudenstine's staff assistant Beverly B. Sullivan sent a letter yesterday addressed to the PSLM members occupying Mass. Hall to detail her complaints with the continuing sit-in.

She said that for students who champion the cause of workers, PSLM members have been rather "disrespectful" to the staff on the first floor of Mass. Hall.

"Not only do you occupy the building and interfere with our daily work, you have piled your belongings in front of our office and in the hallways to make our access difficult," the letter reads. "You have stood or sat together to block our paths. You have filmed us as we move about trying to do our jobs."

Sullivan concluded by requesting that PSLM members end the sit-in.

"If you choose not to leave Massachusetts Hall, I ask that you respect the people who work here," she wrote.

PSLM members sent an e-mail letter to first-years Sunday urging frustrated students to "air their grievances" with the students campaigning for a living wage.

The letter said that in response to complaints from Yard residents, PSLM members have decided to "scale back louder protests to afternoon hours and are generally trying to be more sensitive to noise levels."

--Staff writers Lauren R. Dorgan and Garrett M. Graff contributed to the reporting of this story.