Amherst Sit-In

Twenty-six Amherst undergraduates representing La Causa, a campus organization for students of Hispanic descent, ended their three-day occupation of Amherst's student center yesterday.

They agreed to disperse after Amherst President J. William Ward complied with their demand for a large, accessible office. He granted La Causa an area adjacent to the snack bar in the Fayerweather Social Center as their headquarters.

La Causa's 35 members had previously rejected four locations--selected by Amherst administrators over the last two years for their office. A group spokesman said the rooms were too small or inconveniently located.

The college shut down the campus snack bar, a few faculty offices, and the art gallery in response to the sit-in in the social center.

Hector Banegas, chairman of La Causa, said the purpose of the occupation was to make Amherst adapt to the needs of minorities.

"Diversity at Amherst means more than just accepting minority students," Banegas said yesterday, adding, "We refuse to sacrifice our cultural values and group identity to succeed at Amherst."