NIU’s Student Association found itself on rocky ground with the City of DeKalb last year, but Jennifer Novak plans to mend the relationship.

The SA Community Affairs Adviser wants to clear up problems which began last fall with the controversial appointment of 7th Ward Alderman Jeff Monroe. Monroe was named to the Council to represent the student-dominated ward despite the SA’s objections.

“There were problems last year with some miscommunications,” Novak said. Novak temporarily served in her current position last fall after the senate decided to not reappoint then Community Affairs Adviser Brian Subatich after his term expired in October. Subatich was later reinstated.

Also last year, during a time of possible inflamed racial tension, Novak organized a forum between city officials, student leaders and administrators.

“We had a very succesful forum in which everyone could air out their grievances, open up communications and stop the rumors.”

Novak wants to hold similar forums every semester. “It allows the students to know that the city is there for them,” she said.

Novak also intends to work with Public Relations Advisor Lara Cippolla and plan a blood drive in the spring which would get the community and the university involved.

The Community Affairs Committee also will host another housing bazaar for NIU students at the beginning of spring semester.

The bazaar invites renters, landlords, attorneys and representatives from Cablevision, NI Gas and Students’ Legal Assistance to inform students about renting apartments.

The bazaar gives students the opportunity to talk to the representatives to get questions answered before making visits to see the properties.

“It’s a really good opportunity for the students to educate themselves on what is available,” Novak said.

Novak’s committee, which is in charge of the distribution of the “Study of DeKalb Area Apartment Complexes,” also is looking into the possibility of making the survey annual.

The manual, which is distributed to students, ranks DeKalb apartments according to the level of tenant satisfaction concerning snow removal, management, maintenance, rent, security and other apartment functions.

Novak also plans to have her committee and herself deputized to be voter registrars and help out the voter registration committee and help register students to vote in city and county elections.

The Community Affairs Committee also wants the students living at DeKalb Center, 1100 W. Lincoln Hwy., to know the SA still is available to help them. Last year, the building violated 104 code violations and some still have not been corrected.

Novak said she also is considering having a permanent person do work for the Tenant Union, but she first has to determine whether students would want to pay for it.