Three students protesting Harvard sweatshop policy inside Mass Hall yesterday morning provoked a rapid administrative response, as Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) officers evicted the students and College and University officials gathered to discuss the demonstration.

The Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) organized the action in response to a wave of anti-sweatshop sit-ins at college campuses across the country. The group planned to spend four hours handing out leaflets in Mass Hall, but was ejected within minutes.

Members of the group described the administrative response as excessive.

"I can't help if it's interpreted as such, but it wasn't intended to be anything like a sit-in," said PSLM member Benjamin L. McKean '02. "The administration was really scared," said PSLM member Amy C. Offner '01. "It was just three people with a table--it was pretty innocuous."

Administrative officials said they viewed the demonstration as a more serious threat.

They said they were "surprised" and "disappointed."

"We had such a good communication with [PSLM] that we didn't expect them to react to outside influences like that," said HUPD Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley.

University Attorney Allan A. Ryan Jr., who meets with PSLM members on a regular basis to discuss Harvard's sweatshop policy, said he hoped yesterday's events would not affect the ongoing dialogue.