Some people will do anything to have a sense of belonging. Some join clubs, and some go along with the crowd, constantly changing their minds. Even NIU has done its share of being wishy-washy in the name of becoming popular.

Prior to 1985, the sports program belonged to a conference called the Mid-American Conference. However, NIU dropped out of that conference for whatever reasons. At the time, claims were made that the reason NIU dropped out to become independent was to be able to compete with schools of better reputations in academics and athletics.

Now NIU’s basketball program sold its independence for more than $100,000. But if NIU’s reason for leaving the MAC conference was to find better competitors, then maybe the new conference, Association of Mid-Continent Universities, is even better. Wrong. The ratings of this conference are about the same as the MAC.

Although the athletic department says this move will help recruiting because it makes for more eligiblity for the NCAA, no one has yet to say it was a mistake to be independent.

On top of all this, NIU must incorporate a baseball program. NIU used to have a baseball program, but it was cut for budget purposes. Now money must be spent to start it up again as well as money spent joining the conference.

Hopefully this will turn out to be the good “investment” that officials claim it is. And hopefully, the department will consider its moves more carefully from now on. This vacillating costs a lot of money.