News
Monday, November 3, 2014
NorthernStar.info H @NIUNorthernStar H 815-753-0105
3
Senate approves neutrality in bylaws Margaret Maka Staff Writer
DeKalb | Student Association Senate has approved a bill to enforce neutral viewpoints among SA members, as in the selection of SA Senators. The bill, approved at Sunday’s SA Senate meeting, requires all SA officials involved in the Senate’s vacancy approval process to make all decisions in a viewpoint-neutral fashion. Under the change, all candidates should be judged on their merit and character and not on the views of organizations they are affiliated with. “There’s multiple points in the bylaws that decree specifically that we should be neutral in viewpoint,” said SA Senate Speaker Dillon Domke. “So the opinion of the Rules and Procedures Committee was that it should be across the board. If we’re gonna do that one way, in one aspect of voting, and then not in another way, it contradicts itself.” The motion passed and will be added to the Senate bylaws in article 2, section 5C as point 11. Alexandra Meyer | Northern Star
Other business A bill to approve student group Better Together at NIU was passed unanimously. Better Together representative Ellie Evans said the goal of the organization is to promote interfaith cooperation at NIU through service, dialogue and promotion. “Interfaith cooperation can be defined as different religious and
Dillon Domke, Student Association Senate speaker, expresses his support for changes to the bylaws at the Sunday SA Senate meeting in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room. The changes will enforce neutral viewpoints for SA officials, specifically when selecting SA senators.
nonreligious beliefs coming together for a common good,” Evans said. Evans said the main goal of Better Together is to create a university where all of the religious and nonreligious beliefs are represented. The organization’s short-term goal is to promote interfaith events where members and participants
Student Spotlight
will have the opportunity to voice their values and engage across lines of religious difference, Evans said. Alpha Chi Sigma, a chemistry fraternity, was approved unanimously. A representative of the organization likened the group to the existing co-ed business fraternity on campus, Delta Sigma Pi,
in terms of providing professional opportunities for students in chemistry-related internships and careers. Membership in the fraternity is not exclusive to students with a chemistry major or minor and is open to members who wish to make chemistry a major aspect of their life in the future.
Read more Learn more about the groups approved by the SA Senate: Better Together: ifyc.org Alpha Chi Sigma: alphachisigma.org
Baker dances with students at celebration of lights
Transfer student plans for career in art therapy Kristin Maglabe Staff Writer
DeKalb | Transfer student Kaylei Halbert aspires to use what she is learning at NIU to help teens in therapy. Halbert, a junior majoring in psychology, transferred to NIU from Elmhurst College. She said she hopes to take what she has learned from her art and psychology classes and explore art therapy.
Northern Star: What brought you to NIU? Kaylei Halbert: I liked it because it was close and I have friends who went here. It was cheap and I just liked the environment when I came here. NS: Now that you are an upperclassman, have you been looking for any jobs that involve your major? KH: Yeah, I’m working on it right now. I’m trying to find an internship. I actually want to do art therapy, so I’m looking into some school with that. NS: Could you explain what art therapy is? KH: Art therapy is a type of therapy that includes art where you meet with someone and it’s a way they can express themselves and get their feeling out. Basically, if you work with a small child or someone who’s been through
some type of trauma, usually it’s better for them to draw it out. With that you can tell where Kaylei Halbert they’re com- Junior psychology ing from by major their work. NS: Since you want to do art therapy, do you make art and is there a particular piece you’re proud of? KH: At [Elmhurst College] I took all the art classes. I’m really into printmaking and silk screening; that was one of my favorites. I took two semesters of that, and I took ceramics, as well. For one of our assignments we had to make a poster for a venue, and I did mine for CocoRosie. ... It was a multi-color print, and it was a tree stump in the middle and then mushrooms around, and a really nice split fountain in the back that went from maroon to gold, and that actually got an award. NS: What would you say your main goals are after you finish school? KH: It’s either art therapy or to work in an actual institution, but art therapy is my top choice. My target group to help would be like teens and adolescents.
Suresh Vakati | Northern Star
NIU President Doug Baker (left) and his wife, Dana Stover (right), dance with junior OMIS major Manali Shahd during the Indian Students Association event, Sanskruti, Friday at the Carl Sandburg Auditorium. Sanskurti is the Indian celebration of lights. The evening included a fashion show, dancing, music and art.
Elections 2014: Candidate Profiles Walter Douglas Staff Writer
DeKalb | The Northern Star is publishing profiles for local candidates in the General Election. Election Day is Tuesday. For more information on elections, go to bit. ly/1uXdoWR.
Candidates for County Board District 2 Name: Maureen Little Age: 51 College: Columbia College Hometown: Kingston Goals for position: She said she hopes to give a voice to smaller communities. Experience: She said she was on the Burlington Village Board for
three years.
Goals for position: He said he wants everyone to be more knowlWhy is Little running for this edgeable of the budget and spendposition?: She said she enjoyed ing on the County Board. working for Burlington and enjoyed meeting people and helping Experience: He said he was in edthem. ucation for 36 years as a teacher, coach and an assistant principal. Why should people vote for her?: She said she wants to give Why is Noyes running for this poa voice to the smaller communi- sition?: He said he was an American ties and wants to make sure every history teacher and told his students community has fair and equal say. to be involved in school whether it was athletics or student council. Name: John Noyes Now he feels this is his chance to be Age: 58 involved in the community. College: Received bachelor’s degree from Illinois State Univer- Why should people vote for sity, master’s from Eastern Illinois them?: He said experience in University and administrative education will make him a good certificate from Concordia Uni- county board member. He said versity he is knowledgable politically, soHometown: Genoa cially and fiscally.