More than 48 hours after supporters began their vigil in the HUB-Robeson Center, Penn State administrators last night delivered an outline to black student leaders that sought to answer the academic diversity demands brought before the university.

While acknowledging that some elements approached adequacy, Black Caucus member Chenits Pettigrew (senior-media studies) said the team of students negotiating with officials deemed the plan "unacceptable" without further changes.

With spring classes ending today, Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said administrators decided to release the plan before the end of the semester.

"This is the document we've been working on for several days," Mahon said. "We had the impression that we were probably in agreement with some of the items. At the same time, there might be some sticking points."

Black student leaders and the diverse collection of supporters vowed to continue their occupation of the HUB until more of their demands are met.

"We are still focused and determined to stick to our pledge," Black Caucus leaders wrote in a packet of information released late yesterday. The packet included "Voices from the HUB," personal testimonies about students' reactions to the protest, which were also posted around the student union building.

The university's plan agrees to the creation and preliminary funding of an Africana Studies Research Center, the expansion of the African/African-American Studies Department and the restructuring of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity position.

The administrators also agreed to make a recommendation to the University Faculty Senate to strengthen the current diversity requirement to ensure that "diversity issues of greater relevance" remain the focus.

Black Caucus President Lakeisha Wolf, who received the death threat last week that sparked the recent protests, said that while the elements of Penn State's proposal are very similar to the students' demands, she sees it thus far as a case of too little, too late. She and other black leaders have reiterated that some of their demands have been on the table since last semester.

Pettigrew said the student coalition does not fully approve of the budget numbers proposed for the research center in the Penn State plan.

He is also disappointed that the restructuring of the Vice Provost position does not grant him/her power over two percent of the each college's budget to be held in escrow subject to the assessment of the success of diversity initiatives.

To be effective, the position needs to have more "policing power," Pettigrew said.

Mahon said it would be inappropriate to grant the Vice Provost for Educational Equity that specific authority. "That's not going to happen," he added.

Black student leaders also criticized the lack of university protocol for dealing with death threats and the poor communication between Penn State departments when faced with such acts of hatred.

Former Commonwealth Campus Student Government President Gabriel Bryant said there needs to be a specialized place for students to go when faced with threats, where they know they can find the different kinds of help necessary in such a situation.

He called it "a question of urgency and emergency."

A wide variety of students and interests continued to stand behind the African-American student coalition.

The Lambda Student Alliance taped up posters advertising their support, promising to "continue to persevere as long as it takes." Members of Penn State's Counseling and Psychological Services also posted a letter, volunteering their assistance to any students who need help during the protest.

A large area of the first floor of the HUB remains occupied by impromptu campsites and dozens of students looked to spend a third night there.

Black Caucus spokeswoman Assata Richards (graduate-sociology) spoke late last night to the crowd in the central atrium. Richards said that no matter what happens, she will come away having made many alliances with people thanks to this week's events.

"We know what we have is real," she said.