Thursday January 28, 2016
NorthernStar
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Volume 116 Issue 34
New bus tracking app ready for use Ashley Morse Staff writer
DeKalb | ETA Spot, a new bus tracking app for the HuskieLine, is now accessible to students. ETA Spot, developed by ETA Transit Systems, is free on iTunes and Android app stores. The app received a 4.6/5 on the Android App Store and was rated 4+ on the iTunes App store. ETA Transit Systems, headquartered in Boynton Beach, Fla., has done work for transit systems at the University of Houston, Virginia Commonwealth University and Florida Atlantic University, among others, according to the company’s website. “An engineer on ETA’s side was able to come to DeKalb and install the [GPS] on the buses,” said Rob Jusino, Student Association director of Mass Transit. Jusino said they ran test runs over winter break as well. The app as well as the installation and equipment totaled around $33,574, said SA Accountant Marzena Szmydt. The tracking system formerly used by the HuskieLine was made by the NIU Advanced Geospatial Lab and the Division of Information Technology. The app tracking system had been in use for the past five years, Jusino said. The switch to ETA would cost less than updating the current system and most of the technology used for this tracker had been outdated and would require the purchase of brand new servers for the app, Jusino said. “We wanted someone to just take care of it themselves, rather than just keep it on ourselves,” Jusino said. The new route, the Lucinda Express, which connects the main campus to the west side, is included in the app.
Sara Karikomi | Northern Star
Shaiquale Thompson (left), junior child development major, and junior biology major Jackie Tulian wait for their bus outside of the Holmes Student Center on Friday. ETA Spot, a new tracking app for the HuskieLine, is now available on iTunes and on the Android App store.
Routes on the App • Routes 1L, 1R • Routes 2L, 2R • Route 3L, 3R • Route 4 • Route 5L, 5R • Route 6 • Route 7 • Route 8 • Route 9 • Route 10 • Route 11 • Lucinda Express Both the North and South Huskie Safe Lines are included on the app’s routes.
ETA Spot App
Two stops pictured on Route 7 (left) and Route 7’s stops pictured on the app’s map. The ETA Spot App shows the user how many routes a certain stop with color-coded points. The app also shows users how many minutes away the bus is from their desired pickup location.
Rauner calls for bipartisan effort on budget approval NIU has sufficient funds for fiscal year Jackie Nevarez Editor in Chief T @NevarezJackie
The Associated Press
Gov. Bruce Rauner delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly in the State Capitol on Wednesday.
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DeKalb | Gov. Bruce Rauner delivered his State of the State on Wednesday, where he urged the General Assembly to make a bipartisan effort in approving a budget. Illinois is now in a seven-month deadlock as the Republican governor and Democratic leaders continue to disagree on a state budget. The budget impasse has impacted NIU in multiple ways as the
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university is operating without state funding and students are being credited, but not paid, their MAP Grants — financial aid provided by the state. NIU has the funds to get through the fiscal year, which would be the end of June, according to Chief Financial Officer Alan Phillips. Faculty Senate President Greg Long said Phillips said things will get “dicey” after June. Rauner said efforts to pass criminal justice reform should inspire the state to pass a budget. “If each of us commits to serious negotiation based on mutual respect... there’s not a doubt in
my mind we can come together to pass a balanced budget alongside reforms,” Rauner said. “If we work together, Illinois can be both compassionate and competitive.” Rauner also named 10 long-term goals he had for education which were mainly focused on early childhood education. One of his goals, however, pushed for a reduction in administrative costs and unfunded mandates in universities. “... And then offer additional financial support to those schools that show real progress in putting more resources in the classroom where [they] belong,” Rauner said.
Memorial held for NIU students The Black Student Union held a memorial for former NIU students Quintonio LeGrier and Joseph Graves at the organization’s meeting Wednesday. Go to Page 3 to read more.