When the protesters had not left late Thursday night, Neal released another statement after he was asked for an update on the administration’s response.

“While we are disappointed that student-activists have chosen to adopt these disruptive and disrespectful tactics,” he wrote, “Harvard remains committed to the teaching, learning and research that will bring real solutions to climate change.”

Earlier in the evening, the group of protesters became slightly smaller when HUPD officers said non-Harvard affiliates could face criminal charges for trespassing, according to Rothstein. Officers also photographed the protesters and their Harvard identification cards. According to Kelsey C. Skaggs, a Harvard Law School student who left the sit-in around 5 p.m., the protesters were told that their schools would be notified of their participation.  

Thursday’s sit-in fell on the eve of Global Divestment Day, planned by activists to push for divestment from fossil fuels. It is not the first major protest that the Divest Harvard campaign, which has been active for more than two years, has executed at Mass. Hall—last spring, several members blocked the front entrance of the administrative building. One of its members was arrested, but Harvard did not press charges.

Faust has repeatedly argued against divestment, characterizing it as neither “warranted or wise” in an October 2013 open letter.

In 2001, a group of protesters occupied Mass. Hall for 21 days, forcing then-President Neil L. Rudenstine to work elsewhere. That group was campaigning for higher wages for Harvard employees. After the occupation, many Harvard workers did receive wage hikes.

—Check TheCrimson.com and follow @thecrimson on Twitter for updates.

—Staff writer Theodore R. Delwiche can be reached at theodore.delwiche@thecrimson.com. Follow him on Twitter @trdelwic.

—Staff writer Mariel A. Klein can be reached at mariel.klein@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @mariel_klein.