In an effort to keep their "community" together, about 40 residents of fifth-floor Beaver Hall protested last night against a recent decision to limit the floor to members of the University Scholars Program.

The floor currently houses about 68 scholars and non-scholars, and is the only co-ed non-interest house on campus, said John Mrass, (senior-history), a non-scholar resident.

The meeting, which arose from a scheduled sign-up session for current resident scholars to remain on the floor, was the second addressing this decision.

"They lost in Atherton so they think they can just come over and kick us out," said non-scholar Jack Freeman (senior-advertising). In December of last year, a similar proposal to convert Atherton Hall to 100 percent scholar residency was defeated after student protesting and petitioning. Atherton is currently 80 percent scholars.

The Residence Halls Program, University's Housing and Food Services and the Scholars Program were involved in the decision to change fifth-floor Beaver, said Tonia Devon, coordinator of the University Scholars Program.

At the end of last semester, following the decision, eviction notices were sent to non-scholars of the floor, guaranteeing them housing in Beaver Hall, excluding the fifth floor, said James Baker (senior-pre-med), the resident assistant of the floor.

Residents of the floor were unhappy with the decision.

"Nobody came to talk to us," said Tammy Bert, (senior-biology), a non-scholar.

"It effects all of us, scholars and non-scholars," Mrass said.

Several scholars voiced their opposition as well.

"Don't we have a right, as students on this floor, to be exposed to non-scholars?" asked Derek Felton (freshman-communications).

With a poster reading, "A good community is like a tossed salad. It takes a lot of different parts combined to make it work," hanging on the wall, opposed residents used diversity as an argument against the decision.

"It goes against everything (the University is) saying," Freeman said.

"They are destroying a community and the community is against it."

After listening to the arguments, Devon said, "The Scholars Program was given a choice to have more scholar space on the fifth floor. . . It was a tough choice and it was made."

No currently residing scholars signed up for rooms next year during the meeting. The students plan to contact Residence Halls Program for further discussion.

"We want this decision changed," Mrass concluded.