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Hundreds at Rally Call for Labor Reforms, Rape Resources

PSLM demanded that Harvard require full disclosure of factory locations (which Faculty agreed to yesterday), guarantee a "living wage" for factory workers, establish an independent monitoring system and give students a "substantial" role in the decision-making process.

Arim Dube, a graduate student in economics visiting from the University of Chicago, spoke in support of the Living Wage campaign, which demands that Harvard pay a rate of $10 per hour to all its workers.

"It's not much, but it's a step in the right direction," he said.

At about 3:30 p.m., protesters moved to University Hall, where they formed a human chain around the building with corridors in front of each door to let the Faculty pass through. Vladeck emphasized that protesters were not to harass the Faculty.

"We don't need to keep them in there, because once they're in there, they'll wish they weren't," she said.

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As they took their positions and began a chant of "No Justice, No Peace!" a group of students comping the Crimson Key Society scurried away from a lesson in front of the John Harvard statue.

While a group of students banged on bongo drums and television news crews fought for space on the stairs to University Hall, Rosslyn Wuchinich '99 circulated a petition from the CASV.

The petition, to be delivered to Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68, echoed many of Milikowsky's demands, calling for a 24-hour rape crisis center and more sexual assault awareness programs.

As Faculty members began to trickle into the building and the students' clapping and drumming continued, Epps stepped outside for a few moments, largely unnoticed. He called the day's events "very interesting."

"The best way to achieve something at Harvard is to make your case," Epps said.

Among the crowd of shouting students, Benjamin O. Shuldiner '99 prepared for the moment of questioning University President Neil L. Rudenstine about sweatshops.

"I'm going to ask the president what his belief on full public disclosure [of factory locations] is, and what Harvard's commitment is," he said.

Shuldiner also said his positions as a PSLM member and Undergraduate Council representative gave him the opportunity to organize yesterday's rally. Since his council position on the Committee on College Life allows him to ask a question at Faculty meetings, Shuldiner said he had been a main proponent for scheduling the rally to occur during the Faculty meeting yesterday.

"When I got a letter in the mail saying that the meeting was today, I said `Let's have a rally!'" he said.

Shortly after Shuldiner entered University Hall to the cheers of the crowd, Vladeck and Hennefeld learned of the University's announcement of support for full disclosure of factory locations.

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