A CHANCE counselor, her job is to “work with students and work to get them admitted (to NIU),” she said. Palmer said her way of doing things often conflicts with her superiors’.

For instance, “my relationship with the Black Greek Council was interpreted negatively,” she said. Palmer said it was believed she was supporting the greeks and not the CHANCE program. “That was not true,” she said.

Palmer said a major problem within the CHANCE office was not letting an individual develop his/her style of work. “They (those in the CHANCE office) have a problem with one not saying or doing what they want you to.”

Ganges, however, disagreed with the allegations of bias. “The belief that she (Palmer) was harassed because of the Day of Action is without basis,” Ganges said. “It (her speech) had nothing to do with her dismissal,” he added.

The reasons for Palmer’s release are “confidential,” Ganges said. “They involve personnel and I’m not at liberty to discuss them,” he said. Ganges further denied Palmer was dismissed for “rocking the boat.”

Jorge Nieves, CHANCE admissions counselor, disagreed. “There tends to be favoritism (within CHANCE),” he said.

“New ideas are welcome,” Nieves said, but “higher ranks” believe “you’re supposed to do your job and go home.” Nieves added that extra work and activities were frowned upon.

“There is a lot of tension (within CHANCE),” Nieves said. The higher-ups don’t even like to share information. He said he found out about CHANCE’s 80-percent failure rate by reading about it in The Northern Star.

At a meeting last week in support of Palmer, foreign language Professor Monique LeMaitre said harassment for minorities is common. “You are harassed if you go against the status quo,” she said.

LeRoy Mitchell, CHANCE director, refused to comment.