Dissatisfied with NIU’s formal appeals process, Students for the Freedom of Martha Palmer have decided to try to raise about $2,500 through contributions to help Palmer receive legal assistance outside of the university.

CHANCE counselor Martha Palmer said Wednesday that students are trying to raise enough money for her to afford a trial outside of NIU so that she can seek “justice.” She said she has stated since she received notice on June 27 of the non-renewal of her contract that “to whatever level I have to take to receive justice, that is the level I will reach … justice will prevail.”

Philosophy Professor Sherman Stanage, Palmer’s academic adviser, said a group of students asked him Wednesday to open a savings account for the Palmer fund. An account subsequently was taken out at the National Bank and Trust Company, 230 W. State St., Sycamore, and Stanage said some money already has been placed into the account.

Because Palmer’s contract will expire on Dec. 28, Stanage said the fund’s goal must be met as soon as possible so that outside legal assistance can be sought. He said, “The prime date for court would be sometime next week.”

Palmer and her student supporters are dissatisfied with the lack of actions the university has taken for her appeals process.

Palmer said she wrote a letter on June 29 asking for due process and has not received a date for her trial. However, university officials have said Palmer did not formally request due process until late September.

Stanage said Palmer’s hearing must be held between now and Dec. 22. He said that if the hearing is not held before Dec. 22, when most faculty members take leave for semester break, the administration might fire Palmer without first trying her case.

Stanage said that if Palmer is granted a due process hearing, he would like it to be a public hearing because he wants statements made during the trial to be made public. He said he will have “quite a battle” trying to get testimonies made as public record during the proceedings because such processes usually are not recorded.

Through requesting due process, Palmer has exercised her right as an NIU supportive professional staff member to file allegations of discrimination to be considered by a special hearing board.

The special board consists of seven no-rank faculty members, three of which were chosen by Palmer, three of which were chosen by the administration and one of which was chosen by both.

After a hearing board is chosen, the board must determine whether there is sufficient grounds to justify a hearing. During the actual hearing, all parties involved in the issue are allowed to testify their case.

The board’s decision will be forwarded to NIU President John LaTourette, who, within 10 days, must make the ultimate decision about the issue.

Palmer has said LaTourette already has made up his mind about the issue.

Stanage has said that although there is no reason to believe the seven members of Palmer’s board are not “decent, honest” people, neither he nor anyone else at the university can recall a case in which a faculty member won their case after due process proceedings.