More than 100 students have signed a petition to bring back one

of their favorite directors on campus. Maria Palmer was the

director of the Multicultural Student Center in December; however,

when students returned to campus she was no longer in the

position.

More than 100 students have signed a petition to bring back one of their favorite directors on campus. Maria Palmer was the director of the Multicultural Student Center in December; however, when students returned to campus she was no longer in the position.

Last semester, just four days shy of going home for the holidays, Palmer was told she no longer had a job. Because she held an at-will permanent position Exempt from the State Personnel Act (EPA), her termination was granted at the discretion of the chancellor or chancellor’s designee without the notice according to the employment policies for EPA Non-Faculty which was drafted by human resources. In this case, the designee was Palmer’s superior Judy Rashid, dean of students. Under this policy, the university has the right to discontinue any EPA employee without reason.

“I really honestly don’t know what caused this decision,” said Palmer through a phone interview. “I went into a conference that I thought was my mid-year review, and I was informed that this was my last day.”

According to Nettie Rowland, university relations, the matter was a personnel decision, and at time of deadline, Rashid was not available for comment. Rashid is also listed in 2011-12 university directory as the associate vice chancellor for student affairs.

“Instead of getting rid of people who love their job, they should hire more people as efficient as her,” said Kerwin Vargas, a junior mechanical engineering major.

News of her departure sent shock waves to students like Vargas who worked closely with Palmer. Vargas said it is because of her that he has felt accepted and appreciated at this institution.

“At the beginning, I didn’t know too many Hispanic students,” he said. “If it wasn’t for her, I would probably be transferred to another university. She goes way beyond to help her students.”

In an effort to change this decision, Vargas has teamed up with three other students to try and get their director back. After meeting with both Melody Pierce, vice chancellor for student affairs, and Chancellor Harold Martin, Vargas says they are taking the matter into their own hands.

“We’re not worrying on why she got fired,” said petition organizer Dawit Tarekegn, a senior electrical engineering major. “We are worrying about the fact that no one else can fill her shoes.”

For five years, Palmer worked to recruit diverse students for A&T and make sure that they succeed and graduate. Although she is known as the director of the multicultural student center, her title was director of recruitment and retention for multicultural students.

With this job she was responsible for helping not only Hispanic students, but also all minorities to have a successful time at A&T.

She started taking her students on a spring break service-learning trip in which they fixed and built houses for people in need. In 2006, Palmer and her students traveled to New Orleans to help fix the region devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

“It was a very great experience,” said Vargas. “We learned construction of houses, and it was good helping people in need.”

This year, the students are scheduled to go to Washington, D.C., however many students are opting not to go in protest of Palmer’s departure.

“I’ve taken my name off the list because I don’t think they are going to learn anything,” said Tarekegn, who says because of Palmer’s absence that the students will not build houses as they initially were suppose to. “I grew up in D.C.. I think it’s going to be a waste of time.”

Upon coming to A&T, Tarekegn had a keen interest in soccer. After teaming up with Palmer together they created a soccer team.

“She helped me from the bottom up,” said Tarekegn. “She literally walked me through and got so many students to come to this school because they want to play soccer.”

After hearing what her former students were doing to get her back, Palmer said she feels wonderful yet concerned.

“They really have supported me,” she said. “Putting that burden on students whose main concern should really be graduating makes me feel a little bad, but it feels wonderful to know that they believed in what we were doing.”

Colleagues also shared some of Palmer’s good deeds.

“She has always been dedicated to her children and the students and is a tireless worker,” said Ryan Maltese, university event coordinator. “She is very passionate in what she believes in.”

Maltese said Palmer was instrumental in starting safe zones for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. The zones around campus are available free of any type of discrimination for this community of students.

Palmer is now hoping to return to A&T. Although she was disappointed in this decision, she says would be come back in a heartbeat.

“I don’t kid myself that I’m dispensable,” she said. “I would love to come back.”

• Kelcie McCrae, Editor in Chief