More than 200 black students occupied the HUB Fishbowl last night and left after the University's executive vice president and provost signed an agreement to their demands early this morning.

William Richardson at about 1 this morning signed the list, which included a promise to invite a team of social scientists to examine the University's climate for blacks and to investigate the possibility of forming a Racial Discrimination Eradication Board.

The students -- continuing to call themselves Concerned African Americans at Penn State -- expressed outrage over two weekend race-related incidents in an environment they called "racist." They echoed the demands which were made after April's 15-hour occupation of the Telecommunications Building.

"We are tired of empty reassurances of University and borough commitment to our well being," a female University student read from a statement last night.

"Actions speak louder than words and we have clearly heard the message behind the University's inactions," she said.

Richardson told the students that he had been in contact with University President Bryce Jordan, who is out of town. Richardson and other administrators refused to say where Jordan is, but said he would be returning Friday night.

"(Jordan) expressed his agreement and shared in our frustration," Richardson said.

About 140 black students had come in or out of the Fishbowl prior to 10 p.m. when the statement was read, said Seth Williams, Undergraduate Student Government president.

The majority of students who were not members of the black community and had been studying in the Fishbowl left after the statement was read.

The black students studied and talked quietly among themselves, with various members beckoning others in an attempt to keep the chatter down.

At 11 p.m., the students presented the prepared statement to University officials to be passed on to Mayor Arnold Addison and Richardson, acting in Jordan's place.

At 11:15 p.m., Kevin Parker, one of the students involved, asked the students who were not members of "our community" to leave the Fishbowl for five minutes so they could meet in private to discuss their next move.

After several negotiations with Vice President for Student Services William Asbury, Asbury told the students that he would sign an agreement on behalf of Richardson and other top-ranking officials.

The students refused his offer, saying they wanted Richardson to sign it.

"This is just another show of the University's insensitivity to our needs," one woman shouted.

Richardson was called and came immediately, Director of Public Information Bill Mahon said.

Asbury said "All (the document) does is reconfirm what we were willing to do anyway."

After the agreement was signed, many students refused to comment, saying they wanted to speak as a community and not as individuals.

This morning's events followed two news conferences held yesterday morning by administrators and students.

At the students' conference, they expressed frustration with the administration and events at the University in the past and this weekend.

In one incident, five black women said they were accosted by 10 white men early Sunday morning. University police early Monday then found flyers deriding Undergraduate Student Government President Seth Williams.

These incidents, in addition to ones that have occurred in the past, have outraged the black student community, students said.

Richardson agreed on behalf of the administration to conduct a thorough investigation and punish anyone found guilty.

"Everybody has been saying to turn the other cheek. Both of our cheeks are swollen. We have to face the problem head on and that's what we're doing," said Ronald Williams (senior-political science).

The Campus Environment Team met Monday night with about 60 black students to open communication between the students and the administration and discuss the weekend's events.

Jennifer Demby, vice president of the Black Caucus, said, "(Administrators) mostly listened to student concerns," she added.

A task force to aid blacks, a hotline to report incidents of racial intolerance, a mandatory class concerning racial intolerance and a joint news conference of the two groups are among the suggestions made, Demby said.

At the administrator's conference, Asbury said, "I was deeply concerned about the level of intensity of those statements about possible retaliation."

He emphasized that indiscriminate reactions could do more harm than good in solving the problem of racism and asked students to abstain from this type of response.

But he added, "According to what we heard (Monday) night, anything could happen."

Asbury did not elaborate on specific modes of reaction which he cautioned against.

The University president appointed Robert Dunham, director of academic services, to work with students to keep the lines of communication open.

Availability to students throughout the year is important, Dunham said, but the racial incidents make it an immediate concern.

"Students are very concerned and disturbed about this kind of environment," he said,"we all should be very concerned."

Dunham, who attended the student-campus environment team meeting wanted to meet with a smaller group of student leaders either today or tomorrow, he said.

The Campus Environment Team will meet again this morning as originally scheduled.

-- staff editors and writers also contributed to this report