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Thursday, April 21, 2016
Northern Star
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State rep supports legislator pay halt
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Bob Pritchard Illinois State Representative
It was an idea heard in coffee shops around the state: “stop paying legislators.” Comptroller Leslie Munger must have heard the suggestion because over the weekend she announced that legislators will have to wait to be paid just like the state is making other providers wait. I applaud the actions of the comptroller and hope this will give the needed push for the legislature to pass a FY 2016 budget. I am hearing from my constituents every day about the worsening problems the lack of a state budget is causing providers across the state and in our area. What is needed is for rank and file members to step up and propose bipartisan solutions. Groups of legislators from both parties and both legislative chambers have been meeting privately for months in search of reforms, spending reductions and new revenue to craft a budget agreement. Making compromises is difficult but perhaps feeling the pain that state providers, college students and higher education institutions have been feeling for 10 months will create urgency.
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Perspective
Benjamin Thomas | Northern Star
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Should NIU continue partnering courses with companies? The retail store Kohl’s has a pledge with the NIU marketing department, among others. This pledge gives NIU a monetary gift to distribute within its department such as a $65 textbook fee for students taking Marketing 365.
Faith Mellenthin Columnist
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Kara Mercer Columnist
Kaylyn Zielinski Columnist
Partnering with big companies, like Kohl’s, limits the potential of students who may be happier working for other organizations not connected with NIU. Each semester, upward of 20 students end up working at Kohl’s, according to a Monday Northern Star article. Big company partnerships like this may discourage students from applying to other places. Kohl’s is paying a $65 textbook fee and additional financial support will go toward faculty bonuses, according to the article. I don’t understand why this financial help is going toward faculty bonuses and only $65 goes towards students in the class. This agreement is not fair, but it could be improved by equally distributing financial support to student related expenses only.
NIU should partner with more businesses to benefit students by providing them a direct link to established companies. The opportunity opens the door for students after graduation. It is important NIU encourages students to learn first hand how certain companies work. If more companies were to partner with NIU students would acquire leadership skills, professionalism and other qualities that are needed to succeed in the work force. Students with majors in other departments deserve the networking connections that Marketing 365 students are currently receiving through Kohl’s. The hardest issue after graduation is finding a job. While not all chances are going to be equal, students deserve to have resources for future employment.
NIU should continue to partner with big name companies for classes because it will help lessen costs for the university. Mark Rosenbaum, professor of the Principles of Retailing course, is a part of the Kohl’s corporation. Rosenbaum said he often looks for professionalism and enthusiasm in students he recommends to Kohl’s , according to a Monday Northern Star article. Part of the agreement with Kohl’s is that NIU must give some financial support toward things like books and scholarships. With the budget still not finalized in Illinois, NIU could partner with more companies for extra funding toward classroom expenses. NIU would also have more opportunities when it came to recruiting for career fairs, so overall future partnerships would benefit everyone involved.
NIU should continue to partner with big name companies for classes because it will benefit both the students and the companies. Currently, NIU is partnered with Kohl’s. Students are able to get a discount on their textbooks and also have a head start to a possible internship that could lead to a career after graduation. The university should continue to partner with large companies for other programs aside from the marketing course that currently partners with Kohl’s. With these partnerships, companies will gain workers with industryspecific knowledge and students will feel secure in that they are well qualified to acquire a job after graduation. The partnership seems like a win-win for both the company and the students.