Questions over the controversial firing of CHANCE counselor Martha Palmer possibly will be answered at a meeting being held tonight.

Tom Rainey, Student Committee on Political Action member, said, “A lot of people have questions (concerning Palmer’s dismissal).” He said Palmer will attend the meeting to answer questions at the Holmes Student Center’s Pow Wow Room at 8 p.m.

A videotape of a student protest this summer against Palmer’s dismissal will be shown at the meeting as well, Rainey said.

On July 13, about 25 students marched on the NIU campus to show their solidarity in demanding an explanation for Palmer’s contract not being renewed past its December 1988 expiration date.

“The university refuses to say why she (Palmer) was fired,” Rainey said.

CHANCE Director Leroy Mitchell would not comment on the reasons for her dismissal.

Palmer said she did not receive an explanation, only a document stating her contract of employment would terminate in six months.

Rainey said Mitchell, who hires and fires CHANCE employees, was invited to attend the meeting to answer questions why Palmer was fired.

Mitchell said he would not attend the gathering.

Palmer said she believes she was fired because of her “outspokenness.” She also said her superiors claimed she was in violation of her freedom of speech rights.

She said she is “very charismatic” and “very realistic” with people. “I call it as I see it. I don’t beat around the bush,” she said.

Rainey agreed that many students believe she is being fired because she is outspoken. He said, “Palmer is a black woman who helps students (and) who cares about students …

“She (Palmer) was one of the most outspoken people on campus,” Rainey said. Palmer has spoken out publicly at rallies and at demonstrations against racism and sexism within the university, he said.

Palmer has opposed NIU using SAT, ACT and GED tests because they are racially and ethnically biased, Rainey said.

Another issue Palmer supports is having NIU do more to recruit and retain minority students, he said.

Palmer said she has written articles on how to recruit and retain minority students.

Rainey said he believes the administration is using “divide and conquer tactics” to repress minorities. He said that instead of uniting minority organizations, the administration tries to pit them against one another.

Palmer said her environment in the special projects office is insensitive to minorities. She said, “I would like to have justice in an environment where there is no justice.”

She said this year is the beginning of her fourth year of employment at NIU.