News
NorthernStar.info | @NIUNorthernStar | 815-753-0105
Monday, Sept. 19, 2016
3
SA Senate resumes after election On-campus early voting
begins Oct. 24
Julia Martinez Staff writer
DeKALB | The Student Association Senate is back in session after 16 Senators were elected during last Wednesday’s special election. The Senate, which was out of session for a month because it did not meet quorum, is responsible for recognizing and allocating funds to student organizations, according to the SA Constitution. SA hosted special elections for the first time this semester to fill at least five spots in SA Senate, said SA Senate Speaker Christine Wang.
“
Nancy Galan Staff writer
While doing what I am expected to do, I think this semester will run smoothly.” Jeremy Watson Student Association Senator
After the spring 2016 elections, the Senate had 22 senators. Since then, four senators were removed because they failed to meet SA requirements and three more resigned. “Voter turnout was actually quite low, but that was expected because the time frame of the special election,” Wang said. Voting polls were open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sept. 14. There were 143 individuals who voted in the election. Voter turnout was 843 in the combined presidential and Senate spring 2016 election. Although all 16 candidates were elected, Rachel Lechuga dropped her consideration, Wang said. Senator-elect Jeremy Watson said
Tyus Tuialii | Northern Star
Senior psychology major Kassandra Navarrete (left) is assisted by Board of Elections member Daniel Alarcon Wednesday afternoon in DuSable Hall as she puts down her vote for the Student Association Senate Election.
he ran because he wanted a fun challenge and to represent the students. “I feel motivated,” Watson said. “I am motivated to do my job and to enjoy myself while doing it. While doing what I am expected to do, I think this semester will run smoothly. I expect from myself and the other senators to be transparent and to work with the students.” The first Senate meeting was 5 p.m. on Sunday in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room. Meetings are open to the public and occur Sundays. “Now that we have our seats filled, we will be working on our usual day-to-day material,” Wang
said. “However, we are all working on several initiatives to correct the NIU bylaws, and I think why we were in the special election in the first place shows there are some deep deficiencies in the bylaws.” Wang said she has been trying to change the election process and said it is hard to hold an election when there isn’t much direction or instruction. “Now that these special elections are over, I feel relieved,” Wang said. “I had faith in our executive branch because that collaboration was a good omen for us, so I have a lot of confidence we will accomplish really great things this year.”
SA Senators-elect • Andrew Smith • Moriah Tyler • Kevin Cuautle • Christian Arndt • Kwamayne King • John Barth • Nicole Cannistra • Adam Wilson • Fisnik Balazi • Jeremy Watson • Keilene McCants • Ethan Redensek • Leo Perez • Brandon Lesnicki • Stephanie Torres
Alumnus starts fourth business attempt Kristen Lookingland Staff writer
DeKALB | Alumnus Alex Broches hit rock bottom as a 22-year-old fresh out of college and struggled for the next four years; three startup business attempts took losses, and he found himself $10,000 in debt and barely making rent. Broches’ fourth business attempt, The Junk Removal Dudes, removes unwanted items from homes and buildings; it landed by accident — and in success. Broches got the idea when his mother, Betty Deligiannis, founder and owner of Betty’s House Cleaning, began coming to him for help with heavy lifting. “She kept asking me all the time,” Broches said. “‘Hey, these customers need some stuff moved out of the garage or basement.’ And I said, ‘okay, let me see what I can do.’” Broches decided to take the risk and create the business after he was inspired by physical activity and finding things he normally didn’t see among the rubble and helping others. “Primarily, we try to focus on bigger jobs like hoarder clean-outs, basement clean-outs and full-house clean-outs,” Broches said. The Junk Removal Dudes serves DeKalb, Kane, Elgin, Aurora and Naperville. It also serves the buildings on NIU’s campus such as Stevenson Residence Hall, Davis Hall
Courtesy The Junk Removal Dudes’ Facebook
Alex Broches, The Junk Removal Dudes owner, poses with an item he found during a junk removal project in a photo posted on Aug. 16.
and fraternity houses. “We were getting our [fraternity] house renovated, so [Broches] was hired to just clean it out and get everything out of there,” said sophomore physical therapy major Mike Mullan from Delta Chi Fraternity. “It was really messy when I got there, and he did a good job cleaning it out.” From pieces of history to Chicago Blackhawks jerseys, photos of the removal projects the business takes on and what they find can be viewed on the business’ Facebook page. “As we were taking out the first layer of stuff like newspapers and
cups [at a woman’s house we cleaned in North Aurora], she found her grandbaby’s pictures she was looking for and a brand new box of shoes she bought a couple years ago,” Broches said. About 70 to 80 percent of salvageable belongings are recycled or donated to the Salvation Army, Goodwill and schools and daycares in the DeKalb and Sycamore area if there is no one at the site to claim them, Broches said. The other 20 to 30 percent he keeps for himself or gives to acquaintances, family, friends or to his crew of five.
“I’ve given my workers a lot of stuff,” Broches said. “My neighbors, I’ll give them stuff too. I just try to save it all. If I can avoid going to the dump yard, I try to pass it on so someone else can use it.” In addition to giving his workers any salvageable belongings from the job, Broches treats his workers to dinner, Rockford Ice Hogs hockey games and in the future, perhaps the opportunity to franchise the business. “I was thinking if my [auto restoration business] falls through, I can just say ‘hey Alex, mind if I start a business here,’” said Ryan Burns, The Junk Removal Dudes employee. Broches said he wants to keep his business Illinois-focused but will consider turning it into a franchise in a year. “I could have a guy in Milwaukee, a guy in Los Angeles and I could have somebody in New York,” Broches said. “They [could] just pay me a residential fee to use our name and our philosophy.” With three failed business attempts to one successful, Broches said overcoming fear is what got him to where he is today and will take his business to the heights it may one day reach. “The main thing [is] to overcome fear and keep trying new things,” Broches said. “Keep trying; keep trying; keep trying, because eventually you’re [going to] hit a home run.”
DeKALB | NIU is working with the DeKalb County Clerk to provide students with the option to vote away from home. DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder Douglas Johnson said students should register to vote as soon as possible to vote early. Johnson said voting early helps people avoid long lines on the Nov. 8 presidential election day. “Students should study the candidates and make educated choices on who they vote for,” Johnson said. Johnson said students can easily register to vote online at bit. ly/1YodC57. Early voting begins Oct. 24. Students can also register by Oct. 29 at the Sycamore Legislative Center, 200 N. Main St.
“
Students should study the candidates and make educated choices on who they vote for.” Douglas Johnson DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder
Early voting will be available on campus Oct. 24 at the Blackhawk Annex located in the Holmes Student Center. For specific precincts, voters can go to Barsema Hall. Students can register to vote until Nov. 8. If students have a hometown other than DeKalb including outof-state students, they can still register to vote as long as they have a local address. Sophomore computer science major Jordan Henderson said there should be a more active presence around campus that encourages students to register and vote on campus or at home. “People are readily available to talk to you if need be, and they are there to assist you with anything you may need regarding registration and voting,” Henderson said. Sophomore political science major Eduardo Anguiano said NIU should have more voting resources for students. “[NIU should have] voting polls available in the residence halls for those who can’t go to other buildings due to busy schedules,” Anguiano said. Go to bit.ly/2cMY1vF or call the DeKalb County Clerk’s office at 815-895-7149 for more information about voting.
Voting procedures • Early voting begins at NIU on Oct. 24 at the Blackhawk Annex in the Holmes Student Center and Barsema Hall. • Students can register to vote until the Nov. 8 presidential election. • Students with a hometown other than DeKalb can register to vote in DeKalb County as long as they have been living at a permanent DeKalb address for 30 days. • Voting on campus is not restricted to students.