UMass Feminists Continue Sit-In Of Newspaper

A group of more than 50 women, barricaded in the University of Massachusetts at Amherst student newspaper office for over 100 hours, said yesterday they will not leave until the newspaper staff agrees to increase its coverage of women's issues.

Although the sit-in began four days ago, the demonstrators and staff members have not been able to reach an agreement in three days of negotiating. They decided to halt negotiations early yesterday, Julie Melrose, one of the demonstrators, said yesterday, but they will resume this afternoon.

Art Clifford, director of the News Bureau at UMassAmherst, said yesterday the university will not interfere with the demonstrators "unless life and limb is threatened," because the newspaper is student-run and student-funded.

But William Sundstrom, editor-in-chief of the Daily Collegian, said yesterday, "The administration is acting in an irresponsible manner because they will not uphold the rights of students to use their offices."