Students wanting to voice their concern about the lack of visibility by NIU President John LaTourette during rallies and demonstrations concerning racial tensions on campus made an unscheduled visit to the president’s office last Friday.

About 30 students from the Black Student Union, the John Lennon Society and others walked from a rally in the King Memorial Commons to the office in Lowden Hall with the hope of seeing and speaking with LaTourette.

Tracy Deis, president of BSU, said LaTourette was not in his office and that it was another example of “the case of the disappearing president.”

“We went over as a group of concerned students,” Deis said. “We went to see him (LaTourette) with the intention of speaking to him directly because we never see him anyplace else.”

Deis said the group went to see the president not with trouble in mind, but with the hopes of causing a “small disturbance.”

A member of LaTourette’s office staff said the group was well behaved and approached the office orderly and systematically.

Jon Dalton, vice president for student affairs, met with the group to discuss their positions. Dalton, according to sources, heard of the event and made it a point to meet the students since LaTourette was not available.

“Dalton was cooperative and talked about everything we asked him,” Deis said. However, she said the actions by the president have been less than supportive during the recent Martha Palmer and Sigma Chi incidents.

“These issues (Palmer and Sigma Chi) have not been a war,” Deis said. “But the school (meaning LaTourette) hasn’t gone to the full extent to convince people they are not a racist institution.”

Many students have demanded the reinstatement of Palmer, whose contract as a counselor in the CHANCE program has not been targeted for renewal this month by administrators. The Sigma Chi fraternity recently was suspended for a skit performed by five fraternity members, which was seen as racist by several audience members.

Deis also said the Student Association has not given the racial question enough review in their Sunday night meetings.

“The SA has let the students of this university down,” Deis said. She continued to say that the “red tape” within the SA is “ridiculous.” She said the only way for students to voice their opinions as a group is to unite and speak for themselves. Reliance on the SA, Deis said, would be a waste of time.