Students at M.I.T. Riot in Protest Against Rise in Dormitory Rates

Members of Baker House, who boycotted the M.I.T. dormitory's evening meal on Friday and constituted part of the all-campus rioting group on Saturday, decided last night to denounce the riot and hinted hesitantly of future boycotts if the dormitory's food does not improve.

The zeal directed against the bad food and Institute hikes in prices had somewhat abated last night as a result of a statement released yesterday by John T. Rule, Dean of Students. The dean said that the mere presence of a student at "a riotous or unauthorized demonstration" would be "probable grounds for expulsion from the Institute."

Those at the meeting felt that the administration might consider a boycott an "unauthorized demonstration" and so decided, at least for the present, to let the various campus organs of student government discuss the problems with the administration.

Student discontent with room and board charges at M.I.T. crystallized Friday night into a carefully planned boycott of one of the resident dining-rooms, and then, the following evening, erupted in a series of more violent demonstrations along Memorial Drive. Late yesterday afternoon the office of John T. Rule, Dean of Students, issued a statement in which the Institute "deplored and apologized for" the "recent riotous actions by some of its students."

Friday's demonstration, which was entirely peaceful, had apparently been planned at least two weeks in advance and had the approval of various student government organizations. The primary cause of the boycott reportedly was "bum food"--more specifically "dried up hamburgers." Upwards of 350 residents in Baker House deserted their regular dining room in favor of the allegedly more tasty food in nearby Walker House, where the hamburgers were said to be "nice and juicy."

Friday's demonstration over poor food unfortunately coincided with an official M.I.T. announcement of projected hikes in room and board charges, to take effect next fall. Fired by this added incentive, hundreds of Tech students began to gather along Memorial Drive late Saturday night. By 1 a.m. they had lit bonfires along the roadside, and filled the air with vegetables, empty milk cartons, bottles and bags of water thrown from dormitory windows. Hastily assembled loudspeaker systems taunted local police summoned to the scene of the riots. The disturbance seemed at an end shortly before 2 a.m., but it subsequently began anew at around three o'clock. Once more police converged on the area, and this time they ended the rioting for good. In all, they made 31 arrests, 30 students from the Institute and one from Yale.