Robin Rombach, Post-Gazette Duquesne University students protest against the university's President Charles Dougherty and his treatment of the Law School and denying law Professor John Rago tenure. Students marched through campus to the Law building to protest.

Early yesterday afternoon, the assistant law professor walked back to his office, which might not be his office for much longer. He took a seat and exhaled.

John Rago still knew little about his future at Duquesne University, but after some 150 sign-brandishing students marched toward the administration building on his behalf, he at least knew this: The possible departure of one had somehow galvanized many.

"It's like the '60s all over again," said Mr. Rago. "It's a little overwhelming."

A year ago, Mr. Rago, chairman of a state commission that examines wrongful criminal convictions, applied for tenure. But Duquesne President Charles Dougherty denied the request.

That decision sparked a rush of activity, including a student government petition and a review by a grievance committee, composed of 10 senior faculty members, to examine the process by which the professor was rejected.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rago waits for a final answer, wondering if external pressures will prompt the president to change his mind. If the decision holds, Mr. Rago will depart the university.

Some students joined yesterday's protest simply to support their professor. Others, though, linked Mr. Rago's denied tenure request to a larger issue -- strained relations between the administration and the School of Law.

In a letter written to law school students before the protest, its co-organizer, Michael Quatrini, president of the Student Bar Association, listed several complaints. Among them, he wrote that the School of Law had been denied its rightful percentage of tuition dollars.

Bridget Fare, university public affairs director, countered with a letter to students calling this claim untrue.

Given the long-brewing frustrations, Mr. Quatrini said, "the professor Rago issue was what got the ball rolling."

Students congregated on campus at 11:30 a.m., on the steps of the law school. They marched toward Old Main and gathered on the opposite sidewalk and steps, forming a wall of humanity.

"What do we want?" they chanted.

"Tenure."

"When do we want it?"

"Now!"

The protest continued peacefully for 30 minutes. Both Mr. Quatrini and first-year law student Denise Romeo entered the administration building, hoping to speak with the president. His secretary told the students he was at lunch, Mr. Quatrini said later.

In the average year, Ms. Fare said, 20 or so faculty members apply for tenure. Of those requests, between one and five are typically denied. The school cannot address reasons for denials, she said, because of confidentiality rules.

When Mr. Rago heard the news of his rejection one year ago, he appealed to the university's grievance committee -- a group that is not supposed to provide an opinion on the president's decision, Ms. Fare said, but instead determine if the proper protocol was followed. The committee's findings, which Mr. Rago said swung very much in his favor, were submitted two months ago to Mr. Dougherty.

The 10 members were "unanimous in my favor," the professor said, adding that he might soon release the 16-page report to the public.

On Tuesday, Mr. Rago met with the president, who explained that he'd not yet arrived at a final answer based on the report's findings.

"We talked for 15 or so minutes, and I said that I hoped he'd consider the grievance report," Mr. Rago said. "I asked if he had a timetable, and he said he didn't. It was a little unusual, I felt."

"The president is reviewing it," Ms. Fare said. "The final decision-making authority does lie with the president."