The Student Association senate took a stand against higher tuition after hearing about nearly 5.9 million of reserved cash being held by the Board of Regents.

The Regents are intending to use most of the money to build a DeKalb Civic Center, but the state has refused to offer the rest of the money needed to build the center, said NIU Student Regent James Mertes.

Of the $5.9 million, $4 million is tagged for the center. The money comes from $10 million worth of bonds that were issued in 1986 for various construction projects.

Mertes said tuition is expected to go up at least 5 percent this year.

But even though the money is to be used for construction, Mertes said the money is an example of extra funds in the system which is not being used.

Mertes said he realizes the NIU administration will say the money is only for the civic center. “Let the administration use their rhetoric, but let’s not go for this tuition increase,” he said.

Senators reacted strongly, though with some confusion, to Mertes’ announcement.

Some senators were skeptical that the money would be available to lower tuition, while others said the money would only keep tuition down for a year, anyway.

Also, SA President Robert McCormack said the administration is considering using the money to build a student life center which he said might be used to get students out of the Holmes Student Center.

Sen. Henry Treftz said no matter what the money is supposed to be used for, it is still money that can be used to lower tuition or for more student services.

“The fact is money is green, and it could go to other things,” Treftz said.

In the end, senators decided more investigation into the extra money was needed, but they also passed a resolution written by Treftz.

The resolution stated that tuition increases were “counterproductive” in giving all students a chance to receive a higher education.

The senate also “strongly” urged the Regents to find other ways to get money other than higher tuition along with using more of the money in the system on class instruction.