DeKALB — The Student Government Association offered its support and suggestions to faculty senate spokesman Mark Van Wienen during a presentation about TEACH OUT, an appeal to Illinois lawmakers for more funding for public universities.

UNIVERSITY TEACH OUT

Van Wienen, an English professor, faculty senator and president of the NIU United Faculty Alliance, addressed the SGA senate and explained the upcoming TEACH OUT event on April 16.

It is an all-day event in which advocates will travel to Springfield and pressure lawmakers to pass the Adequate and Equitable Higher Education Funding Act (Senate Bill 13).

NIU professors and instructors belong to a labor union called University Professionals of Illinois  (UPI Local 4100). It represents about 3,000 members across Illinois.

The UPI is partnering with the Coalition for Transforming Higher Education to plan this event.

Faculty, students and community members from NIU and other Illinois campuses will be bused to Springfield, where lunch will be provided. The activists will also meet in small groups to pressure legislators to support Senate Bill 0013.

Van Wienen explained the importance of Senate Bill 0013. The bill is intended to more equitably distribute funds to Illinois public universities based on their individual needs.

“It would lift up all of the universities across the state, with a priority on those that have the least sufficient funding based upon students served and student needs,” Van Wienen said.

Senator Erin Uhrine suggested instructors offer extra credits as an incentive to encourage attendance.

Van Wienen welcomed encouragement, calling it “a terrific idea.”

A final rally is scheduled that day as a last call-to-action and made-for-media event.

SENATE BACKUP PLAN FOR EMERGENCIES

SGA Senate Bill 57027 establishes circumstances in which the senate is unable to meet in person in case of emergency.

“This bill aims to provide procedures for the speaker to follow in case of another pandemic or disaster that affects the ability of the SGA Senate to meet,” Speaker of the senate Nathan Gonzalez said.

The bill passed in a 13-1 vote.

SGA WEEKLY STAFF REPORTS

Senate Bill 57029 establishes that all paid positions write weekly staff reports detailing what they’ve accomplished for the week, which can be requested by anyone from the NIU community.

This process will be overseen by both the SGA president and the Senate speaker.

The bill passed in a 14-0 vote.The next SGA meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center.