Faculty members and Student Association representatives of NIU’s Athletic Board have given mixed reactions toward a recommendation from a board committee to reduce the two groups’ membership by 57 percent.

The proposal from the Ad Hoc Committee on Policy and Structure called for trimming the board from 34 to 20 members. Board Chairman Curt Norton said the study was in response to a concern on the University Council’s part about the board size. In addition to Student Association membership being reduced by five people, the proposal recommended cutting faculty from 14 to seven.

SA President Jim Fischer said he was unhappy with the proposal because SA representation was cut from seven members to two members. SA Treasurer Lisa Schlepp seconded Fischer’s opinion and said she did not believe the board as a whole should be cut.

“I didn’t think that proposal was a good proposal,” Fischer said. “It obviously didn’t cut each group equally. It seemed they wanted to cut the board because it was too large, but I don’t think it is. If there is that mandate (to reduce), which I’d work against, we’d have to work on a proposal that would not cut as many students.”

When cuts in membership were being considered, the committee combined two athletes with six SA representatives for a total of eight students. Then the committee cut the student and faculty total in half. The board then decided to keep two athletes, a male and female, leaving room for only two SA members.

Fischer said the committee should not have done that because the SA and the athletes previously have been viewed as separate entities.

“They were taking two groups and lumping them together and cutting that,” he said.

Faculty board member Robert Chappell said he is leaning toward no change at all. Another faculty board member, Daniel Wunsch, said a move might be beneficial.

“There are some parts (of the proposal) that I like. I think it’s good to ask whether you need to occupy (34) people’s time,” said Wunsch, a professor in the business education and administrative services department. “I will be interested to hear what will happen. I heard some people (board members) say it (being on the board) is fun and they like what happens in sports. Those are arguments that do not support having the present number.”

“If they have to cut the board, they should cut proportionately,” Schlepp said. “I think staff should be represented more and so should students (in a proposal). I don’t see the need to cut. It’s been very effective.”

The proposal was drawn up after the committee reviewed how other Division I universities’ athletic boards were constructed.

“I’ve been on the University Council for two years, and I can’t see why it’s a big issue,” Schlepp said. “Northern has never been a leader in looking like other universities, so I don’t understand why they would start now.”

“I would need to see more compelling reasons other than just to make it similar to other groups,” said Chappell, a music professor. “It (the proposal) doesn’t seem very fair, that’s for sure. I think they should give at least three (slots for the) SA. I’m kind of wondering what their reasoning (for change) is. The board does not necessarily make day-to-day decisions.”

Wunsch said if seven faculty members can do what is necessary instead of 14, then the proposal might be acceptable. He said he does not know whether the new composition would be better because he has been a board member only under the current faculty composition.

Board member Joseph Grush, professor in the psychology department, declined comment, said a secretary in the department. She said he does not grant interviews to the Star.