DeKalb Mayor Greg Sparrow suggested imposing university sanctions as serious as expulsion against Day of Action II protestors who blocked Lincoln Highway April 13.

Sparrow said he plans to meet with NIU President John LaTourette to discuss the sanctions against 79 protestors arrested during Day of Action II.

“I don’t think we should boo the idea of kicking people out, because NIU is a college of demand,” he said.

Sparrow said because NIU turns away thousands of students each semester, the university does not have to tolerate “radical” behavior.

He said students responsible for felonies, date rapes, bombings and racism should not have to be tolerated because there are many students waiting to enter NIU.

Tom Rainey, Day of Action II Co-coordinator said, “Date rape is different from students taking collective action against what they see is wrong.”

Rainey said the concept of NIU replacing expelled students with those waiting to enter is a scary thought. He said NIU would be replacing students who are fighting for higher education.

Student Association Sen. Anne Rapp said, “We’re fighting for education, and he (Sparrow) wants to get rid of us?

“He wants us to be quiet, subdued and not notice what’s going on around us.”

Sparrow said there are other ways to make an impact than civil disobedience. He said students need to show legitimate means of supporting higher education by rallying, writing letters to legislators and contacting them by telephone.

“I don’t think what they did (blocking the highway) is going to make one iota of difference in the legislators’ minds,” Sparrow said.

Constituents responded negatively to the Day of Action II protest, Sparrow said. “They don’t condone civil disobedience. It diminishes from the message they (students) are trying to get across,” he said.

Sparrow also expressed concerns of a Day of Action III.

“The first time (October) they blocked the highway for ten minutes,” Sparrow said. “The second time it was 90 minutes. What’s going to be next?”

Rainey said protests would continue. Sparrow is “probably frightened of us,” he said.

Sparrow said, “I don’t want to see what’s going to happen when emotions are higher and tensions are stronger.”