Furious students yesterday staged a massive protest at the Bermuda College campus in Paget after a popular member of the faculty was made redundant.

The associate manager of recreational and sports programmes and facilities, Norbert Simons, was told earlier this week that his services would not be required after the end of the month.

It is understood that the cut comes due to a lack of funds to pay Mr. Simons who has been employed at the college for 11 years.

Yesterday close to a 100 students converged on the administration building and held a noon-time sit down outside the office door of college president Dr.

George Cook.

The group later broke up but descended outside Dr. Cook's office later with a typed copy of their views on Mr. Simons' redundancy which they presented to him.

Dr. Cook arranged a meeting with the student body for Monday at 10 a.m. when vice-president Dr. Donald Peters is due back from a trip.

The students first gathered at 11.30 a.m. in the student centre where angry students were circulating a petition calling for Mr. Simon's retention.

A woman -- who refused to be named and described herself as "a mature student'' -- told the crowd: "If you are serious about what you're going to do then sign the petition.

"You have to have a show of support. You can't go to the president and just tell him that Mr. Simons should stay. That's not going to do it.

"You have to do it as one -- one body -- and go together. This will make a better impression than a bunch of angry young students.'' The woman told The Royal Gazette that she had thrown her support behind Mr.

Simons because his efforts had kept a lot of the kids off the street.

She said: "The students needed a recreational facility and Mr. Simons provided things for them to do which keeps them off the street where they would otherwise be.'' Mr. Simons was responsible for organising college events such as fashion shows and talent shows as well as fund raisers for the college in the forms of dances and cruises.

Student protest But the reasons for his popularity went beyond that according to student Jahrinzo Simmons who summed up the feelings of the protesters.

"Mr. Simons organised a lot of stuff for us but he is also the only teacher we can relate to directly. He knows people individually but now someone else is going to come in who we don't know.'' Mr. Simmons blasted the college heads: "The people up top don't support students. They don't care like Mr. Simons does.'' He said: "I want to find out why they let him go. I want to hear it from them directly. Why isn't Mr. Simons no longer needed?'' The students marched to Dr. Cook's office waving various signs and crammed into the waiting area where the president met them.

The mature student told Dr. Cook: "Mr. Simons had a positive effect on these children when they could've been out on the street.

"The school is supposed to be here for them but now you're taking something away from them.'' Dr. Cook suggested they meet again on Monday when the vice-president would have returned from a trip away but the students grew angrier and by 12.10 p.m.

they were all seated.

Several members of the group voiced outrage at the way they felt they were being treated by Dr. Cook.

Student Mitchell Trott said: "Here I am angry and all you're doing is smiling.'' Other students said they were left after the meeting still wanting answers.

Outside Mr. Simmons said: "I don't feel we're being taken seriously. He's standing there smiling and acting all nonchalant -- it's irritating.

"He said there was not enough money to pay Mr. Simons but if money is the problem why aren't they cutting a couple of people?'' The students' actions were supported by members of staff.

One man who asked not to be named but revealed he had been with the college for six years said: "It definitely isn't justifiable that they let Mr. Simons go.'' He said he had read the letter Mr. Simons received telling him he was being made redundant and the reason given was that "there was no money allotted in the budget to carry his wages through the year''.

The man also revealed that Mr. Simons had been told that if any other posts were made available, the college would welcome his application.

Meanwhile Mr. Simons was staying away from the proceedings.

He told The Royal Gazette : "I think I should stay clear of what's going on.

I don't want to be accused of starting this.

"I am trying to be professional. I intend to do my job to the best of my ability until the end.'' He said he was director of student activities until October when he was made associate manager after a period of restructuring but his duties remained the same.

Now his job was due to finish and he was now concerned about his future. "I am in the process of figuring out what I am going to do. I need to find work because I have got three kids to think about.'' At 1.45 p.m. the protesters emerged from the office following the sit down.

Student Denie Owen said the next step was for the students to write a proposal to present to Dr. Cook at 3 p.m.

The finished product -- which accompanied a list of student signatures -- asked for a review of Mr. Simons' status because of the students' admiration and respect for him.

In their opinion, it continued, Mr. Simons "interacts with students; knows his job and does it well; has 11 years experience; shows a positive attitude toward students, is a father figure; supports us spiritually, financially and emotionally; defends students' rights; puts in a lot of extra time without pay and takes time to talk to each student''.