After rallying in the Kent State Student Center Plaza, supporters of a Kent State student group continued their protest in the lobby to the university president's office yesterday afternoon.

About 35 supporters of the Student Coalition, a campus group organized to address student views and rights, marched into the lobby of Kent State President Carol Cartwright's office and demanded to meet with her.

Many students were carrying signs protesting Cartwright's $34,000 raise and views on administrative bureaucracy and repeatedly chanting "Carol," in reference to Cartwright's first name.

After learning that Cartwright would not be back to her office for about 20 minutes, many of the students decided to wait for her return. They were urged to keep out of Cartwright's office by Sheryl Smith, director of the Office of Campus Life.

"It's fine to express their opinions," Smith said. "But with (Cartwright's) schedule, it's not a good time to meet with her on the spur of the moment."

Smith advised coalition members to assign a group of representatives to schedule an appointment with Cartwright.

Many of the students replied by shouting that the coalition represents all students and do not need representatives.

Chris Stringer, a member of the coalition and president of the Coalition for Animal Rights and the Environment (CARE), said it was necessary for coalition members to voice their concerns in group form.

The students shouted their beliefs on various issues when Cartwright walked into the lobby.

Coalition members again demanded to speak to Cartwright in her office. Cartwright tried to convince the students to make an appointment to meet with her, but some members of the group accused her of shutting out the students.

"This is not being shut out," Cartwright said. "I am asking you to make an appointment like everybody else, and I will be happy to meet with you."

Cartwright said she could not meet with the coalition at the moment because she had to attend a meeting concerning the accreditation of an academic program.

Some of the students in Cartwright's office, such as Lora Landis, said they were insulted that the president would not meet with them on the spot.

"We would like to ask Carol (Cartwright) a few questions," said Landis, a member of the coalition and junior pre-med and biology major. "I find it very disturbing that she turned her back on us."

Cartwright said she had no intention of insulting the students.

"It's perfectly fine to have a different opinions on issues regarding the university community if you do it civilly and respectably," she said.

Kent State police officers were present in the lobby to make sure it did not get out of hand, said John Peach, director of the campus police department.

Peach said officers were on the scene because they were about to attend a meeting in the same building but additional officers arrived at his request.

Some coalition members, like Mac Lojowsky, said they saw the officers' attendance as an act of fear by the administrators.

Coalition members said it is difficult to speak to administrators, despite such open forums as Coffee Talk with President Cartwright.

Amy Mundhenk, a coalition member and president of the Kent Neo-Pagan Coalition, said Coffee Talk is held so early in the morning that most students are unavailable to attend.

The protest ended peacefully and Mundhenk said coalition members will discuss whether to schedule an appointment with Cartwright.