Tufts Students Finish Three-Day Sit-In

MEDFORD--After leaving the administration building early Saturday morning in a dramatic climax to their three-day sit-in, a group of Tufts University students yesterday continued their struggle to secure tenure for Assistant Sociology Professor Peter Dreier and to change the university's tenure process.

About 250 students, according to one protester's estimate, met outside Tufts President Jean Mayer's home yesterday to express their continuing support for the professor and to plan further action regarding tenure changes.

The protesters also discussed a joint proposal made Friday by the university administration and the sit-in steering committee. Sophomore David Riker said yesterday that "no one was satisfied" with that proposal.

Under the terms of the motion, the president would recommend to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at a meeting on May 9 that it establish a faculty/student committee to review the tenure process at Tufts.

"None of us felt that it was adequate," said Riker. "We wanted something more tangible," he added.

Riker explained that the student group established 10 committees to consider the various aspects of the tenure issue. Some groups will meet to make amendments to the proposal at hand, while others will try to persuade Tufts students to withhold their contributions to the senior class pledge drive until the administration agrees to these amendments.

Although many students will continue their efforts to protest the administration's refusal to grant tenure to Dreier, "the group is more interested in focusing its energies on the tenure process in general," said Riker.

Asked about the students' efforts, Tufts Provost Sol Gittleman said, "The astonishing thing is how little students know about the tenure process," adding that students "just don't know what the tenure process is."

But Gittleman said, "I don't know why we can't open the tenure process up a little more."

Departure

The exit at 2:20 a.m. of more than 200 protesting students from the building, Ballou Hall, capped off about five hours of tension-filled debate over the proposal and whether it provided sufficient reason for the students sitting in--or "clumping," as their form of protest is known--to leave the building.

"This is a total victory for the students," said senior Daniel Poor, a protest leader, after the protesters had left Ballou, adding that "although the administration applied force, we didn't let that affect our democratic process."

Poor referred to the administration closing the building earlier in the evening, forbidding those who left it to return, and to the stationing of 15 Tufts policemen around the building. Despite this apparent threat of police action. Poor said, "We were not coerced" into leaving the building.

After walking out of the building with candles in their hands before a crowd of several hundred student onlookers, the protesters formed a large circle in the center of the campus and began to sing "If I Had a Hammer."

Several participants called the sit-in "very beautiful." One, citing the spirit of beautiful." One, citing the spirit of the group, likened it to "a fraternity in the best sense."

Dreier, who addressed the students occupying Ballou an hour before their exit, said afterward that the sit-in "was a first step, not a last step" toward revamping the tenure process adding. "I think a lot's been accomplished here."

"The students decided that was the only way to get their voices heard, and they certainly got their voices heard," Dreier said.

Latest Stage

The occupation of the building, which began on Wednesday as a protest rally outside Ballou took place after a year of student objection to Mayor's decision not to grant tenure to Dreier.

Mayer last May voted the university's Tenure and Promotion Committee's recommendation that Dreier he given senator. According to the university's tenure procedure, be cannot return to reach in the fall.

Mayer has refused to reconsider his decision, giving as one reason for his veto the 3-3 split within the Sociology Department over tenure for Dreier.

In a statement explaining their position. Dreier's supporters expressed their belief that he was refused tenure because of his social activism and support for controversial causes, such as his opposition to Mayer's decision to accept a $1 million gift from Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

On Friday, the third day of the "clump," the group occupying Ballou debated whether they should stay or go, while student opposition to the occupation became more vocal.

During a press conference held Friday by the student protesters, a spokesman for a group of opponents to the occupation forced his way to his right to spread. He spots for five mistakes after the crowd voted to allow his speech.

The opposition spokesman told. "The measures you've taken are drastic," adding. "I think a majority of this campus would agree that you should leave."

After a dinner break in which many of the protesters left the occupied building, the students recovered in Ballou to discuss the recent proposal and whether to stay for the weekend, and all-in leaders announced that Dreier had contacted them and would talk with them.

After several delays, the protesters at 9:30 p.m. addressed the question of whether to stay the weekend or leave that night.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m., the university police chief announced to the students inside that the building was closed, that students could not leave it and return later, and that those inside were trespassing and therefore breaking the law.

The question of staying or aging faculty come in a vote at midnight. Disputes the clearly growing impatience and weariness in the group, the students voted overwhelmingly to stay.

But dissension immediately broke out over what "stay" meant. One sit-in leader questioned whether it made some for the protesters to my another day unless they made a commitment to stay until the end of negotiations.

Others, however, advocated staying the night and considering the issue in the morning.

Meanwhile, a crowd of several hundred student onlookers had gathered outside, and about 15 university policemen had ringed the building. Inside there was a growing air of nervousness, with one student saying to another. "I'm scared. I want to get out of here."

Another vote was taken at 1:15 a.m., and this time the crumpets voted as 67 to leave.

Twenty minute later, Dreier himself entered the occupied building and told the group, "You're win.

"I think you have educated more people on this campuses, in this country, than Jean Mayer has educated in his entire life," he said.

After responding enthusiastically to Dreier's speech, the protesters once again launched into song and followed it by chanting "Use That Power."

Shortly after 2 a.m., the weary students unanimously voted to "leave together." One of the leaders declared the issue settled "by acclamation."

The group spent several minutes deciding upon a song to sing when they left and passed out candles. At 2:30 a.m. the doors were opened and the students, singing "If I Had a Hammer," walked out

The opposition spokesman told. "The measures you've taken are drastic," adding. "I think a majority of this campus would agree that you should leave."

After a dinner break in which many of the protesters left the occupied building, the students recovered in Ballou to discuss the recent proposal and whether to stay for the weekend, and all-in leaders announced that Dreier had contacted them and would talk with them.

After several delays, the protesters at 9:30 p.m. addressed the question of whether to stay the weekend or leave that night.

Shortly after 11:30 p.m., the university police chief announced to the students inside that the building was closed, that students could not leave it and return later, and that those inside were trespassing and therefore breaking the law.

The question of staying or aging faculty come in a vote at midnight. Disputes the clearly growing impatience and weariness in the group, the students voted overwhelmingly to stay.

But dissension immediately broke out over what "stay" meant. One sit-in leader questioned whether it made some for the protesters to my another day unless they made a commitment to stay until the end of negotiations.

Others, however, advocated staying the night and considering the issue in the morning.

Meanwhile, a crowd of several hundred student onlookers had gathered outside, and about 15 university policemen had ringed the building. Inside there was a growing air of nervousness, with one student saying to another. "I'm scared. I want to get out of here."

Another vote was taken at 1:15 a.m., and this time the crumpets voted as 67 to leave.

Twenty minute later, Dreier himself entered the occupied building and told the group, "You're win.

"I think you have educated more people on this campuses, in this country, than Jean Mayer has educated in his entire life," he said.

After responding enthusiastically to Dreier's speech, the protesters once again launched into song and followed it by chanting "Use That Power."

Shortly after 2 a.m., the weary students unanimously voted to "leave together." One of the leaders declared the issue settled "by acclamation."

The group spent several minutes deciding upon a song to sing when they left and passed out candles. At 2:30 a.m. the doors were opened and the students, singing "If I Had a Hammer," walked out