EUGENE–Tuesday evening May 18, about 30 University of Oregon students staged a sit-in protest at the school’s administration building, Johnson Hall.

The protest was triggered by e-mails sent between students, which included language that many readers felt was both racist and threatened sexual violence. Concern over these e-mails meshed with wider student concerns about diversity issues, and led, after a rally at the EMU to Johnson Hall. There students met first with the President’s staff in the Johnson Hall lobby to discuss their concerns and and clarify their goals. They then presented those goals and issues to the President. That meeting initially attracted approximately 75 students.

President Frohnmayer met with students for two hours, discussed closely to their concerns, and set a timeline for action in addressing the issues they raised. After setting up times to meet further, he left to teach a class.

Some protesters chose to remain in Johnson Hall past closing time. They did not present any additional specific demands. After being warned that they were trespassing and given hours to disperse, a number chose to remain, and starting at 8:30 p.m. were removed and cited for trespass.

"These unfortunate incidents do not lessen my resolve or the University of Oregon's to push forward the issue of campus diversity, " said Frohnmayer. "We have made great strides in the past few years on this goal and I firmly believe that the University of Oregon administration, the vast majority of faculty, staff and students are working toward the same end: Building a campus community that represents our diverse society and is safe for all students, faculty and staff."

Frohnmayer complimented the student demonstrators for their peaceful, respectful and orderly behavior during the protest. Among other things, the students cleaned trash from the sit-in area before they left the building.

"We can work together," says Frohnmayer. "And I look forward to doing the hard work of building diversity at our campus."

Frohnmayer also praised the Eugene Police Department for the cooperative way in which they worked with campus officials and their patient and respectful manner in which they treated the students who had refused to leave.

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