Students and parents waiting to know if they will be able to request university crime statistics might be disappointed because President Bush received an extension Thursday to sign the Students’ Right to Know Act.

Although his signature on the Students’ Right to Know Act of 1990, Senate bill 580, is expected by Saturday, the ramifications of not signing the bill into law are serious. Bush originally had until today to sign the bill.

If Bush does not sign the bill, it would mean colleges and universities would not have to release crime statistics to students, parents and college newspapers, said a spokesperson for the Student Press Law Center.

However, he said if the bill is not signed, it might be reintroduced to Congress.

“Support is so high for the bill” Congress might override a veto by the president, the spokesperson said.

A representative for Pennsylvania State Rep. Bill Goodling, who is a sponsor of the bill, said the president probably received an extension because of the large number of bills that passed through Congress and were sent to his office during the time he was campaigning.

The representative said if the president did not get an extension to sign the bill, the Students’ Right to Know Act and many other bills that are waiting to be signed could have been pocket vetoed because of time constraints.

However, the representative said, “It is our understanding that he is definitely going to sign the bill.”

George Shur, NIU legal counsel, said even if the president does veto the bill, it would not change any circumstances at NIU because the university already provides information on crime statistics.