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Monday, January 25, 2016
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Senate halts vote on ordinance Gordon elected SA commissioner Maxwell Bisaillon Staff writer
DeKalb | A City Council vote for an unlawful assemblies ordinance was delayed from its original vote today due to the influence of the Student Association Senate. The unlawful assemblies ordinance would regulate and quickly disband gatherings of people if police officers felt it necessary, said SA Senator Timothy Brandner at a SA Senate meeting Sunday. DeKalb Mayor John Rey tabled the vote after being contacted by SA Senate speaker Dillon Domke. The SA constructed a letter to City Council addressing its issues with the new ordinance. Among the SA’s complaints was the use of a single officer to disband an assembly of people if one member of that assembly participated in any unlawful activities including, but not limited to: possession of cannabis, underage possession or consumption of alcohol and the use of “fighting words,” Brandner said. Additional fines would be imposed on those in possession of items considered weapons, such as bats and protest signs with posts or handles, Brandner said. “We need to speak with the mayor and the council to see what we can do to fix it so that students don’t feel that their rights are being violated,” Brandner said. After almost 20 minutes of deliberation, the SA’s vote on sending the letter to City Council was passed unanimously.
Election commissioner Pre-physical therapy
Anandh Marimuthu | Northern Star
Student Association senators speak at the SA Senate meeting Sunday at the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room. The SA constructed a letter to the City Council addressing issues with an unlawful assemblies ordinance. The Senate voted unanimously on sending the letter to the City Council. Kevin Gordon was voted into the position of election commissioner during the meeting.
Kevin Gordon was voted into the position of election commissioner during the meeting. Gordon served as election commissioner in fall 2015. Upon returning to the election commissioner position, Gordon said he hopes to get more students to run for positions as well as student involvement in elections. “I believe that it is going to be easier this semester because it is a dual election, as well as having more time and resources,” Gordon said. “The SA’s Twitter is back up major and, compared to the two weeks I
had last semester, I have two to two and a half months this semester.” The dual election this spring is a result of the legislation passed last spring by the SA to merge elections into one election spring 2016 in an effort to increase student involvement in the election process, according to a May 4, 2015 Northern Star article. Gordon said he plans to make further connections with a variety of student organizations on campus to encourage their involveAnandh Marimuthu | Northern Star ment and representation within Student Association Senator Timothy Brandner speaks during the SA Senate meeting Sunday. the elections.
Applicants wanted after two SA directors, trustee resign Northern Star staff
DeKalb | Applications for two Student Association director positions are due today, after the resignation of the director of Academic Affairs and director of Cultural Affairs, as well as the student trustee. The direc- Raquel Chavez tor of Aca- Former student demic affairs trustee is “responsible for monitoring and making recommendations for changes in university aca- Timi Adeboje Former director of demic policy Academic Affairs and serving as liaison to the Faculty Senate and all student advisory committees,” accordSergio ing to the SA Gutierrez Bylaws. The Former director of position was Cultural Affairs
previously held by Timi Adeboje. The director of Cultural Affairs is “responsible for promoting a diverse campus culture by encouraging cultural programming, ensuring support services are provided to underrepresented individuals and monitoring policies that affect minorities,” according to the SA Bylaws. The position was previously held by Sergio Gutierrez. Ari Owens, SA director of Public Affairs, said the directors resigned their positions. Neither former director responded to a request for comment. Applications for the director positions are due by 4:30 p.m. today, according to Owens. Students can go to niu.collegiatelink.net to apply through HuskieLink. Contact Owens at aowens1@niu.edu for more information on the positions. Student trustee Raquel Chavez, first-year law student, resigned from her position on the Board of Trustees, according to a SA news release Thursday. The student trustee serves on the Board of Trustees, which
Apply
To apply for a Student Association director position, go to niu.collegiatelink.net. Applications are due by 4:30 p.m. today. Contact Ari Owens, SA director of Public Affairs, at aowens1@niu.edu for more information. “operate, manage, control and maintain [NIU],” according to the Board of Trustees bylaws. Chavez served as SA vice president for the 2014-2015 academic year, then ran unopposed for the student trustee slot last spring. She ran under the Voice of Change ticket and garnered the most votes of all candidates with 2,150. The former student trustee’s resignation comes from her desire to focus on her role as a law student at NIU, according to the news release. The SA said it is working with the Board of Trustees to fill the vacant position.
In Brief
SA creates mental illness campaign
and “give a charge to college students in helping stop it,” said SA President Nathan Lupstein.
DeKalb | The Student Association has created a campaign called the #NoShameCampaign to help combat stigma surrounding mental health issues and counseling. The SA said its aim is to normalize the seeking of treatment for mental health issues that affect a growing number of college students, according to a SA news release. 51 percent of college students reported feeling overwhelming anxiety, and 1.5 percent of students reported attempting suicide within the last 12 months, according to the American College Health Association’s 2013 National College Health Assessment. The SA said it hopes the campaign will reach a national level. Contact the SA at 815-753-0483 or studentassociation@niu.edu, or check out the hashtag #NoShameCampaign for more information. Go to niu.edu/counseling for more information about mental health services at NIU. Other campaigns the SA has done include the It’s On Us campaign. The It’s On Us campaign was started in 2014 by President Barack Obama to help prevent sexual assault on college campuses
Student shouts threats in DuSable
Northern Star staff
Northern Star staff
DeKalb | At 11:30 a.m. Friday in DuSable Hall officers responded to a situation involving a student shouting threats. The student’s name will not be released due to health and privacy reasons, said NIU Spokesman Joe King. “Threats are taken very seriously here at NIU,” King said. “The student was not armed, she was spoken to and determined to be calmed down. We then had an ambulance called and had her taken to Kishwaukee Hospital where she was taken for further medical evaluation.”
Basic tax return prep to be offered Northern Star staff
DeKalb | Qualified students, faculty and staff will be able to get basic income tax return preparation beginning Tuesday. The event will take place every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting Jan. 26 and ending April 12 in the Holmes Student Center’s Gallary Lounge.