The deadline is approaching for students and taxpayers who wish to address the Board of Regents in March at NIU.

Those wishing to speak before the Regents at the Mar. 21 meeting at NIU must submit their papers by Mar. 11.

According to Regents policy, individuals wishing to address the group must submit a request and summary of the presentation to Chancellor Roderick Groves and NIU President John LaTourette at least 10 days before the meeting.

NIU Student Regent Jim Mertes has prepared a form letter for interested individuals that complies with Regents requirements. These can be picked up at the Student Association office on the second floor of the Holmes Student Center.

Submitting these forms will allow the individual five minutes to address the Regents. Those wishing for a longer time period must follow the normal procedure but also must submit 14 copies of their presentation to the Board.

However, submitting a request does not guarantee an individual speaking privileges, said Groves’ assistant Cheryl Peck.

Peck said all requests are given to Regents Chairman Brewster Parker. Parker considers the requests, informs the Regents and then lets them decide who will address them, she said.

As a result, individuals will not know until the day of the meeting if they will be allowed to speak.

Mertes encourages any student or taxpayer with a complaint to go before the Regents because this is the last meeting at NIU before the Board considers a tuition increase.

“Students wishing to attend NIU in the fall are going to have to pay a lot more money to do it,” Mertes said. “I think the students will want to let the Board know how they feel about that fact.”

Mertes said some NIU student leaders are planning to address the Regents.