An NIU chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People might be underway thanks to the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

NAACP co-chairmen James Anderson and John Quilico met in Lincoln Hall Monday evening with about 17 NIU students.

“Our goal is to act as a liaison to the university to create understanding necessary for handling racial problems that come up,” Anderson said.

Otis Moore, vice president of the Black Student Union, said the BSU is very excited and enthusiastic that an NAACP chapter is being formed.

“We wish them well and we’ll support them any way we can,” said Moore.

Anderson described the NAACP as being an interracial, inter-faith, non-partisan, social organization.

The group’s function is to “eliminate racial discrimination and to secure first class citizenship status for blacks and other minorities,” Moore said.

Quilico, also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, said, “The organization consists of 60,000 members operating out of 500 youth councils and 100 college chapters at virtually every major university in the nation.”

Anderson said the four basic objectives of a college chapter are civil rights action, community education, citizenship training and leadership development.

“By handling these more effectively we will transcend the boundaries of the BSU. We are established to educate minorities and non-minorities alike to the racial tensions present here,” he said.

Quilico said the NAACP also wants to get black students involved in campus activities. “We want to increase the participation of blacks in extra-curricular activities here.”

Anderson said the major contributions made by college chapters include liberal admission policies being instituted, integrated housing on most campuses, the removal of racial and religious biases and non-discriminatory policies.

“It’s one of the oldest and most effective civil rights organizations in the U.S.,” he said.

Anderson read the objectives of the organization from a certificate of incorporation, which are to promote equality and stop racial prejudice in the United States.

Other objectives included securing minorities from suffering by increasing opportunities for legal justice, education for their children and jobs, Anderson said.