"Students wanted full need-blind admissions," he says. "It is a goal over the long haul, but not in the foreseeable future."
But protesters say a need-blind admissions goal is an immediate need because of the negative impact the current policy has on the student body.
Jeffrey A. Albert, who was handcuffed and jailed for a short time, says need-aware admissions detracts from a diverse student body.
"Racial and economic diversity are bunk with need-aware admissions," Albert says. "It is the opposite of the policy Brown claims to have."
Winter says that the current situation actually adds to racial tension on campus because white students see themselves as competing with minorities for the limited existing financial aid funds.
"It translates into a racial struggle on campus," Winter says. "As we were marching, I heard a white student yell, 'Pay your own way, you poor bastards.' It definitely fosters racism."
But Reichley notes that the need-aware policy is not essential to a diverse class, adding that the class of 1996 is the most diverse in history.
"The next class is 29 percent minority," Reichley says. "Are the chances that it would be better if we considered everyone? Sure. But it costs money to do that."
Reichley says that if the university devoted more money to financial aid, other facets would suffer, turning Brown into a second-rate institution.
"Access then becomes moot because it is access to a mediocre plan," Reichley says. "We must maintain the faculty and the library. That's why financial aid is not our first priority."
While no one disputes that SAMA's goals are noble, most administrators and many students objected to the means of expression.
"I've been here for 24 years and I've never seen a situation quite like this one," Reichley says.
"They were out of control. No question. I was quite fearful for my safety," adds Reichley, who negotiated with students in University Hall during the takeover.
The vice president says the "out of control" protest may actually backfire and cause alumni to donate less money to financial aid.
"It runs the risk of turning people off," Reichley says. "I've already seen letters from alumni outraged by this."
"To take over the building, what is the point?" says Associate Registrar Michael J. Pesta, who watched students flood the registrar's office, push secretaries and answer the phones.
But Winter argues that the protest raised national consciousness, and will increase financial aid donations in the long run.
"We will see more money coming in," he says. "The issue of need-blind admissions is placed on the agenda as it never has been before."
And Winter says the issue will surely remain on the agenda.
"The struggle and pressure will continue," Winter says. "SAMA will not end with the semester. Brown still has a need-aware admissions policy, don't they?"