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.