CHICAGO—Two Chicago-area legislators reiterated their position against the firing of CHANCE counselor Martha Palmer at a press conference Friday which turned into a confrontation between opposing NIU constituents.

Backed by members of several minorities’ rights organizations, State Rep. William Shaw of the 34th Legislative District and his brother, Chicago 9th Ward Alderman Robert Shaw, told a group of about 10 media representatives gathered at Chicago City Hall that they believed the problem of institutional racism at NIU dates back as far as 1982.

Ald. Shaw said situations similar to that of Palmer’s occurred in the past with the forced resignations of a black woman and a hispanic faculty member, one of which he said was a CHANCE counselor. Shaw said he obtained this information from students attending a Nov. 10 hearing at NIU concerning Palmer’s case organized by Students for the Freedom of Martha Palmer.

Ald. Shaw read a press release to the city hall audience which stated, “It seems to us that this is an attempt by the university to forever prohibit blacks and other minorities from entering and successfully completing their education. The university have allowed resident assistants to harass blacks and other students in particularly blacks. This must stop (sic).”

He continued by stating that the university has accused “many black students of stealing from the library when in fact they know the blacks were not involved in any such conduct.” When questioned about whether he was referring to the January 1988 Holmes Student Center Bookstore theft incident, Shaw replied that he received all his information from NIU students, and he said that it was his assumption that the library and bookstore were the same entity.

Several NIU constituents appeared at the close of the conference and voiced differing opinions about the Shaws’ positions on the dismissal of Palmer, who was told in June that her contract would not be renewed past December.

Joe Annunzio, Student Association senate speaker, said he disagreed with Rep. Shaw’s threat to use his position on the state appropriations committee to cut funding to NIU if Palmer is not reinstated in her job.

“I don’t think cutting funds here is a legitimate issue,” Annunzio said. He said withholding state funding from higher education is a separate issue from the Palmer situation and would unfairly affect all NIU students.

Julia Stege, John Lennon Society member, rebutted Annunzio’s statements by saying, “The SA has a history of racism. They’ve been cutting funds to minority organizations for years.”

DeKalb 7th Ward Alderman Mark Powell said, “I fully support Rep. Shaw’s actions in the state legislature. When racism rears its ugly head, it should be fought.” He added that he believed Palmer has been a “very positive aspect to the (DeKalb) community.”

JLS member Tom Rainey told the audience, however, that Powell is not an “ally” of NIU students or Palmer.

Rainey announced a press conference would be held today at 1 p.m. in the student center’s gallery lounge to address the issues of Palmer and racism on campus. He said that at the conference, “concrete plans” would be made for a demonstration at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Pow Wow room.

On Friday, Rep. Shaw said he had scheduled a meeting for this Tuesday in Springfield with NIU President John LaTourette to resolve their differences on the Palmer issue. However, he said that when LaTourette received notice of Friday’s press conference, the president canceled the meeting.

LaTourette said Sunday, though, that he had received “no direct contact from Rep. Shaw about anything.

“I did contact the representative’s office and planned to meet with him on Nov. 16,” LaTourette said. He said high winds canceled the flight to Springfield for that meeting.

LaTourette further said that Phil Adams, legislative representative for the Board of Regents’ chancellor’s office, had scheduled a meeting for this Tuesday between LaTourette, Rep. Shaw, Regents Chancellor Roderick Groves and Adams. The president said this meeting has not been canceled. “I have a Nov. 22 message indicating this meeting had been scheduled, and that’s the last word I had.”

At Friday’s conference, the Shaws also repeated their plan to confront LaTourette and the Board of Regents about the Palmer situation at the Regents’ meeting on Wednesday and Thursday at NIU.