Protestors From Boston State Disrupt State College Trustees

Seventy-five demonstrators disrupted a meeting of the Board of Trustees of State Colleges yesterday to protest alleged racism, political firings and what they called "other injustices" at Boston State College.

The demonstrators represented black, white and Spanish-speaking students, as well as faculty and women's groups, and made the following demands of the trustees:

* The rehiring of Henry Allen, instructor of history, who has been responsible for recruiting most of Boston's State's black students;

* General education credit for Afro-American studies courses;

* More tenured positions for blacks, women and Spanish-speaking people; and

* Maintenance of low tuition at Boston State and other state colleges.

The group also plans to ask for the resignation of Boston State President Kermit Morrissey, because of what they termed "inaction and deception" in response to their grievances.

Sylvia K. Burack, vice-chairman of the Board of Trustees said yesterday that the protestors spoke "extremely persuasively" and that action is "possible."

She said the trustees could not make immediate decisions, but that they would refer the demands to appropriate committees.

Yesterday's demonstration is the latest incident in a series of debates, petitions and building takeovers that began at Boston State last fall to protest seven allegedly political firings.

Morrissey denied that the faculty cutbacks were politically motivated, and said they were due to overstaffing.

The faculty cutbacks come in response to this state's new curricular "master plan" for its 11-college system, which calls for fewer educational and liberal arts programs and more courses in industrial, business and health areas.

The plan, approved last fall by the trustees, says the curricular change is a response to this region's economic needs, that depend on a "highly skilled labor force."

Allen, whose rehiring was an issue in yesterday's demonstration said the plan was an attack on liberal arts education for the working classes, and part of "a nationwide assault on public higher education."