New group geared for older students

By Dawn C. Brown

Older adults attending NIU can participate in a support group designed for their individual concerns.

S.W.A.N (Students Who Are Nontraditional) is a new organization for students over the age of thirty. The organization will be having a kickoff gathering on Sunday, Oct. 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. at University Resources for Women, 105 Normal Rd.

Chris Hinde, the program coordinator plans to meet with nontraditional students and find out what their interests are. “We want to establish short-term and long-term goals and just have a good time,” he said.

Graduate Assistant Ruth Wickersham said nontraditional students make up a very large percentage of NIU students. “We don’t think the University is addressing our needs as much as they should be.”

Wickersham said, “We want the group to decide the most immediate plans for the year and begin to discuss their own issues.”

Nontraditional students can get isolated and there might be an interest in breaking that isolation,” she said.

“We want to network with the nontraditional students and get them back into that learning experience. By doing this, we can belay a lot of their fears,” Hinde said.

“Younger people are so courteous and nice, you don’t realize the difference (in age) after awhile,” he