and Sean Noble

Despite threats by two Chicago-area legislators to attempt cutting state funding of NIU if CHANCE counselor Martha Palmer is not rehired, university administrators said they will continue to use “the proper polices and processes” to come to a decision on the personnel issue.

NIU President John LaTourette said Palmer began appealing her case through the normal university appeals process in late September, three months after she was told her contract would not be renewed past the end of the fall semester.

“The peer review group is set to convene soon” to hear the counselor’s appeal, and administrators are proceeding with plans to deal with the case in the same manner they would other cases, LaTourette said.

State Rep. William Shaw of the 34th Legislative District and his brother, Chicago 9th Ward Alderman Robert Shaw, spoke out last Thursday at NIU against Palmer’s dismissal, saying the move was prompted by institutional racism. The two men outlined measures they plan to take against university officials, including the possibility of refusing state funding to NIU. Rep. Shaw said he is a member of the state appropriations committee, and that he would try to influence fellow committee members.

LaTourette said, “It is inappropriate for legislative people to interfere in the personnel process. … (The Shaws) are on a bandwagon to get publicity and incite the people they represent.”

LaTourette also refuted Rep. Shaw’s claim that the president had not replied to a letter written to him by Shaw in September concerning the Palmer issue. “I wrote a letter, dated Sept. 30, to Rep. William Shaw, and Ken Beasley (LaTourette’s administrative assistant) has tried to contact both Shaws, with no response,” LaTourette said.

Provost Kendall Baker said Friday he does not “feel threatened” by the “unnecessary and inappropriate threats” of the legislators, referring to Rep. Shaw’s statement that he will make LaTourette “feel the wrath of the legislature” if the university does not retain Palmer.

Baker said he was disappointed in the Shaws’ comments because administrators have “clearly indicated all along that (the Palmer issue) is a personnel matter.” He said the university has specific guidelines to follow for such issues, “as does every other public institution” in Illinois.

“Mr. Shaw should not deal with the funding of this institution this way when we have real problems that should be addressed other than this personnel matter,” Baker said.

He also said he thought it was unfortunate the Shaws came to the conclusion that NIU has a problem with institutional racism without first discussing the matter with university administration. He said it would be more appropriate for the Shaws to study what the university has done and is doing now to promote racial unity on campus.

Eddie Williams, vice president for finance and planning, attended Thursday’s “student hearing,” which was called by the Students for the Freedom of Martha Palmer. However, he said he was not officially representing the NIU administration and declined further comment.