It has been an interseting past few months in the Educational Services and Programs office (yes, where the CHANCE program is located.) With unfounded and ludicrous accusations flying, I feel there is a need for a voice to be heard other than that of Martha Palmer.

Let me begin by stating that although I am sure there was no harm intended by Star reporters, I was misquoted in the Sept. 9 issue while responding to Palmer’s charges that I verbally harassed her. I distinctly recall saying “I wholehartedly deny harassing her and in fact was physically threatened and harassed by her during the incident.” I have also been in the process of exploring legal and judicial rights and options as a result of the incident in question which was witnessed by many CHANCE employees.

I suggest the Sept. 8 Northern Star is also worth a second look. In it one will find a Palmer quote, “Our office is insensitive to the needs of minorities.” Although Palmer herself has had difficulty peacefully coexisting within the office environment, her implication that the needs of all minorities are met with insensitivity is clearly a fallacious, irrational and sweeping generalization.

As for those groups acting on Palmer’s behalf, let it be known that I unequivocally support and applaud the efforts and pramble of the John Lennon Society and the goals of SCOPA. Having been at NIU for the past seven years, I am proud to say that I’ve attended JLS meetings, marched at protests (demanding NIU divestment from South Africa among others), and have been a folk and protest singer at peace rallies since 1983. By not doing their homework in the Palmer case however, I am saddened to see these fine organizations manipulated into sharing Palmer’s illogical conclusion that her firing was racially motivated.

I can only say, thankfully, that we have been blessed with the poised and strong leadership of Leroy Mitchell, The Northern Star’s sacrificial lamb of the summer heat. Throughout our difficulties, he has kept our motivation high and continued to focus on our number one priority,—the students. I am deeply saddened that students in my caseload have reported a lack of positive self-regard as a result of being in the center of this controversy. To those students and all CHANCE students, please know that we in the CHANCE program still believe in you! Despite the negative and destructive energy which has been created, please remember the words Jesse Jackson spoke on the very campus not too long ago, “Keep up the struggle” and “Keep hope alive.”

Joe Vigneux

B.A., M.S. Ed

CHANCE Counselor