Enough students support having a vote whether or not to keep NIU in the Illinois Student Association, a Student Association adviser said.

After months of SA bickering and cnfusion, Tom Ellett, political education and action committee adviser, collcted 1,259 signatures to hold an ISA referendum.

The Student Association Constitution states that at least 5 percent of students (1,250) need to sign a petition to have a referendum.

The ISA is a student lobbying group in Springfield that tries to influence state representative toward student interests. NIU has been in the ISA for two years, and each student pays a $1 ISA fee every semester.

Senate Speaker Preston Came said he has the signatures, and he is trying to work out a referendum date with Elections Commissioner Alfred Tatum. He said the date can be no later than March 8.

Tatum said he would talk to Came about the referendum as soon as he looks at is schedule for a proper date.

Came said he could not say when he would bring the referendum up before the SA senate.

Ellett said he spent at least six hours last week fnding and persuading students to sign the petition. He went to Founders Memorial Library, the Pow Wow cafeteria and the Recreation Center, he said.

“People are always skeptical of petitions now. The probably thought it was an anit-war petition,” Ellett said.

Despite pleas for help with the referendum, Ellett said he received help from only one SA senator.

“I would have liked there to have been more help, but it is all over. That is all that matters,” he said.

The need for signed petitions led to a cancelled referendum date last semester after the SA Supreme Court said a referendum without the petitions would be against the SA Constitution.