NIU housing officials say credit card companies are violating university policy when they post applications and sales pieces in the residence halls.

“Any solicitation for any for-profit enterprise” is prohibited on residence hall bulletin boards, said Stacy Dolby, housing service assistant director.

Yet a random check of residence halls on Oct. 21 yielded several dispensers containing credit card applications on bulletin boards and walls.

Douglas Hall bulletin boards and walls contained one credit card application dispenser for Sears, two for American Express, and two for Citibank MasterCard and Visa. Stevenson South walls yielded Citibank applications, and Stevenson North boards and walls contained three Chase Manhattan Visa applications and five Citibank applications.

No applications were found in areas checked in Neptune hall, yet Lincoln Hall had three posters announcing a Citibank representative would be taking applications at Village Commons Bookstore Oct. 17 through the 20.

VCB owner Dick Boardman said he was not aware of the posters.

National groups promote credit cards a few times a year in VCB, and Boardman said he is paid for every card issued.

Dolby said residence hall bulletin boards are reserved for posters and fliers approved by University Programming and Activities and by each residence hall.

These items must be from Student Association recognized organizations. Announcements from students concerning rides, and books for sale also are allowed, Dolby said.

An “information table” in the lobby of each residence hall is the only place credit card applications may be placed, Dolby said.

Residence hall staffs are supposed to take the illegal applications down when they see them, Jack Felver, housing service associate director, said.

“Frequently these kinds of things have no return address that can be traced, so we just take it down,” Dolby said. Often the only address listed on sales pieces is that of a processing facility for completed applications.

“I can’t speak for the individual halls, but I know from time to time we get reports that a particular activity is being advertised rather extensively. The policy is always the same—if it isn’t approved, it comes down,” Dolby said.

The unauthorized applications are “not what we call a serious problem,” said Douglas Hall Director Warren Hess. “It’s something we react to. It’s kind of hard to be pro-active and respond when you can’t tell the source (of the applications).”