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Monday, Oct. 31, 2016
Voter turnout stays steady Clarissa Hinshaw Staff writer
DeKALB | Voter turnout has been similar to the 2012 presidential election on campus at early voting locations.
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DeKALB | United Faculty Alliance members elected Virginia Naples, professor of biological sciences, as union president and Rosemary Feurer, associate professor of history, as vice president. Union officials announced the results of the election of officers to the Interim Executive Board Oct. 28. The union, which was certified in June, represents tenure and tenure-track faculty members. It is affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
Douglas Johnson DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder
Associated Press
Election judge Steve Glad (left) helps a voter feed their ballot into the tabulation machine Tuesday at the Alton Law Enforcement Center where early voting began Oct. 24.
elections]. It’s still early though.” This is the first presidential election for many college students like junior psychology major Suzanna Newman who is voting in her first election. “I think that it was quite amazing [being able to vote for the first time],” Newman said. “This is a huge election. There’s so much at stake here that hasn’t been at stake before. The climate of our country politically, educationally, mentally [and] emotionally is changing... I am going to be able to cast a vote into history. [The Supreme Court] is huge in deciding where our
country goes legally.” Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away on Feb. 13, and President Barack Obama’s nomination for a new justice was rejected by Republicans in Congress. Four more justices will be entering their 70s and 80s during the next president’s term, so the next president could be appointing as many as five new justices for a lifetime term during his or her presidency. Newman is in a women’s gender theory class in which students learn about the 19th amendment, which gives women the right to
vote. She said the ability to vote is important. “The importance of voting speaks for itself,” Newman said. “If you’re going to be the kind [of person] who refuses to vote simply because you feel your vote doesn’t matter, then you obviously do not understand how the democracy in our country works.”
Read more Go to NorthernStar.info/campus/ to read more about the Republican, Democratic and third-party presidential candidates.
SA Senate OKs Campus Live Radio Julia Martinez Staff writer
DeKALB | Campus Live Radio was founded in 2011 by four students inside of dorm room closet in Neptune Residence Hall, and despite its meager beginning, the show now reaches about 200 to 300 listeners per show. The organization produces a radio and talk show hosted by students that features NIU news, gossip, advice and local music, all of which is available through an app called “Listen2MyRadio” said Mary Gentry, Campus Live Radio president and senior film major, during a SA Senate meeting 5 p.m. Sunday in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room.
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On Wednesdays, we play unknown artists, and on Thursdays, we play throwback songs.” Mary Gentry Campus Live Radio president and senior film major
Campus Live Radio hopes to reach out to unknown musicians on campus now that it has been recognized as an organization by the Student Association Senate, Gentry said“We have announcements, interviews and music breaks,” Gentry said. “On
Voted-in officials to lead union Nicole Scott Staff writer
I’m very happy with the voter turnout in DeKalb County so far for early voting. Turnout has been strong and steady. I would say that people are taking advantage of the nice weather... .”
Early voting in DeKalb County began Oct. 17 but did not open on campus until Oct. 24 in the Holmes Student Center, Blackhawk Annex. Early voting polls will remain on campus until 5 p.m. Saturday, then reopen on Election Day, Nov. 8. “I’m very happy with the voter turnout in DeKalb County so far for early voting,” said Douglas Johnson, DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder. “Turnout has been strong and steady. I would say that people are taking advantage of the nice weather, the fact that there’s no lines and the ease of voting at their own convenience. The 2008 and 2012 elections were very busy elections. I would say [this turnout] is comparable.” Deputy Registrar Ed Abell said he has seen an increase of voters from past elections on campus. Abell said he has been pleased with the voter turnout. “It’s been pretty good,” Abell said Thursday. “We’ve had [more than] 250 voters so far. It’s probably 30 percent more so far [than in past
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Xavier Ortega | Northern Star
Student Association Senator Brandon Lesnicki dresses as a cow for the SA Senate meeting 5 p.m. Sunday in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room. SA Speaker Christine Wang, who dressed up as a Slytherin student from the popular book series “Harry Potter,” relieved senators from the business-causal dress code and encouraged them to dress up in costumes to celebrate Halloween.
Wednesdays, we play unknown artists, and on Thursdays, we play throwback songs.” Gentry said the organization also has a Periscope account, which is a video streaming app that allows people to share a video link on Twitter. Through Periscope, Campus Live Radio hosts go around campus and video chat with students so their voices and opinions can be heard through the radio show. “I really love this idea,” said Jack Barth, SA senator and sergeant-atarms. “Campus Live Radio is doing
great; keep doing what you guys are doing.” Students interested in becoming a radio host or submitting music and interview requests can email CampusLiveRadio@gmail.com or follow the organization’s social media accounts @CampusLiveNIU. Public Affairs Lark Lewis, SA director of public affairs, has been working on increasing followers for SA’s social media accounts. “Through Twitter, we average about 213 impressions a day, and one
of our tweets about the game day shuttle had 2,500 impressions,” Lewis said. “That’s around the number of how many people see our tweets.” One of Lewis’ goals is to have more student-affiliated posts. She aims to post more photos and updates about events happening around campus to get students more interested and involved. “On Instagram, we average about 35 likes per picture,” Lewis said. “Other than social media updates, I have been working with [SA] Senate to promote all campus events such as the voting drives and the last home volleyball game.” Senator at large Junior finance major DeNiro Torrence was appointed senator at large. DeNiro believes there are many activities NIU has to offer and aims to get more students involved by being a member of the SA Senate. SA senators review activities, business, executive action that spends student fee money and policy affecting students, according to the SA Bylaws.
SA Senate meetings Student Association Senate meetings are held 5 p.m. every Sunday in the Holmes Student Center, Sky Room.
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This is all about making NIU a better place for faculty and students.” Andy Bruno Assistant professor of history and United Faculty Alliance Election Committee member
Now that officials have been elected, union members are planning on beginning contract negotiations, during which they Andy Bruno hope to address United Faculty salaries and Alliance Election working condi- committee member tions. Arrangements are going to be made with administrators to determine the official date negotiations will begin. “I would like to serve in this capacity because I want to empower us, the tenured and tenure-track faculty, to participate in choosing the direction in which our university will go in the future,” Naples said in a statement on the union’s website. The union held elections of officers Oct. 26 and 27. Voting booths were open to union members only. However, the election com- Rosemary mittee had Feurer union registra- United Faculty Alliance Vice tion cards avail- President able for tenuretrack and tenured faculty to join and place their vote the same day. “This is all about making NIU a better place for faculty and students,” said Andy Bruno, assistant professor of history and United Faculty Alliance Election Committee member.
Union-elected officials Virgnia Naples: President Rosemary Feurer: Vice president Paul Stoddard: Secretary Reva Freedman: Treasurer Kate Cady: At-large representative Betty LaFrance: At-large representative Melissa Lenczewski: At-large representative Scott Wickman: At-large representative Simon Weffer: Chapter representative to the local