Thirty-nine Dunster House students signed a petition Tuesday calling for the resignation of Vincent W. Li '87, an assistant senior tutor in charge of hiring who came under fire last week for participating in the hiring of his brother.

The petition came one day before a resident tutor resigned and another "considered seriously" filing an official complaint against Li.

Circulated by Gregory C. Perry '93 and Emily C. McNeal '93, the petition also called for a student reevaluation of the four resident tutors hired this year. Li, who has assisted the masters with tutor hiring since the fall, was present at the interview of his brother, William W. Li '84.

"I don't think Vince sees he did anything wrong," McNeal said. "This will put a lot of scrutiny on the process for next year."

McNeal, who said she planned to give the petition to Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57, said more students didn't sign the petition because they told her they were "worried something would happen to them."

Tutors last week said that Li also had some influence in the hiring last fall of his girlfriend, Fiona Murray, and in 1991 of a longtime friend, Owen Young. Liem makes all final decisions on tutor hiring.

Tutors and students this week also said that Mark Schroeder, a graphic arts tutor hired this year by Li, was another of Li's longtime friends.

At an open meeting last night, Dunster House Master Karel F. Liem denied Li had any improper involvement in the disputed hirings. Schroeder and Li did not return repeated phone calls this week.

The morning after the petition was circulated, Cynthia Palmer, assistant senior tutor for fellowships, resigned at a staff meeting.

"The recent events at Dunster House certainly had an impact on my decision," Palmer said in an interview after the meeting.

But Liem said Palmer resigned because of a "personal decision relating to her career."

"Her decision was not connected to the whole case, at least that's the way it was related to me," Liem said. "It has nothing to do with the problem."

Liem said he is trying to convince Palmer to stay next year, as Henriette Power, the senior tutor, and Renee Gonzales, the third assistant senior tutor, will not be on campus next year.

"We are in negotiations," Liem said. "It is very important for Dunster House that [Palmer] stay."

McNeal and Perry also distributed a "fact sheet" to all Dunster House student mailboxes which reiterated the tutors' charges and Liem's responses. Perry said he and McNeal compiled the handout after speaking to the co-masters, the senior tutor, and more than seven other tutors.

Despite uproar from students and tutors, Liem said no changes would be made concerning tutors already hired. Liem also said Li will retain his position as assistant senior tutor in charge of hiring, and that Vincent and William Li would be co-chairs of the pre-med committee next year.