Studying long hours into the night, socializing with friends and cramming for exams typifies the lives of many NIU students. But a sometimes forgotten fact is students are also voters—with the power to elect officials to represent their concerns in DeKalb’s city government.

Campus concerns meet city interests at the voting booths. The wards are aligned demographically, and three out of seven residents of DeKalb are NIU students, said Gary Boden, DeKalb’s assistant city manager. Some students are registered to vote either in DeKalb or in their hometowns. And, although voter turnout often is low in DeKalb, students dominate election results in the first, sixth and seventh wards, which include residence halls and Greek Row.

Student concerns include maintaining the Huskie Bus system and city streets, said DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow.

Street repair was a primary concern of Greek Row students last year when the city considered restricting Huskie Bus service until funding was received to repair the streets, said First Ward Alderman Chris Hoagland. The majority of people in Hoagland’s ward are NIU students.

Hoagland, who is an NIU student, said there are problems between how the students and the community view each other. Her predecessor Ronald Matekaitis, now the city attorney, initiated an award given for outstanding contributions from a university group to the city and vice-versa.

Increasing the number of NIU buses and lowering the drinking age are two concerns expressed by 7th Ward Alderman Mark Powell whose ward includes most of the residence halls, although he is not an NIU student.

Powell said adding 18 buses to NIU’s fleet would “alleviate some of the time element in waiting for buses.” Powell indicated students in his ward would like bus service to expand into the summer.

“My basic concern from my conversations with constituents is they would like government to treat them with respect and dignity,” Powell said. “Students have a right to socialize in the bars in the City of DeKalb.”

NIU student Mike Neylon, who also is manager at the DeKalb Pet Shop, was appointed alderman for the 6th Ward in August. DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow said he selected Neylon for the predominantly student ward because of the candidate’s ties to both the university and the community.

Fifth Ward Alderman Bessie Chronopoulos said, “I don’t want the students perceived as gadflies just interested in bar hours.

“I don’t see any benefit to extending bar hours,” said Chronopoulos, who has served as alderman for 14 years. “We don’t have the people power (police) to accommodate (increasing the hours).

Noise and litter are problems faced in some of the residential areas when students hold keg parties, Chronopoulos said.

“It causes fights and police problems, and nobody wants that,” she said. “Nine out of 10 times, it’s not the students. It boils down to whomever they’re renting the facilities from.”

Parking availability, viable transportation and affordable housing are important concerns for students and families in the 5th Ward, Chronopoulos said.