The Student Association Senate showed support for the construction of a new police station during the last meeting of the year Sunday.

Senate Speaker Austin Quick said DeKalb purchased the area on Lincoln Highway where a new police station will be built. One reason for the building of the new station is because the University Village is noted by the police for having the highest volume of police calls, Quick said. Putting a police station near campus will not only help students better but also demonstrate violence and other crimes will not be tolerated by the NIU community, Quick said.

Some senators questioned supporting the resolution. Several senators said the station’s close proximity to campus looks bad, there was little student input, and minorities felt this would make it easier for the police to single them out.

Other senators showed support by saying this new police station will make NIU students feel safer in the face of complaints about the violence on campus.

“It’s a drastic and needed step to show we’re done with the violence,” Quick said. The resolution passed, but not unanimously.

The Senate also passed a resolution to prevent vehicles other than Huskie Buses and hotel traffic from entering the turnaround lot at the Holmes Student Center. The parking services committee determined the turnaround lot was dangerous for pedestrians and vehicles, Quick said. The plan will go into effect fall of 2012, Quick said.

A resolution to recommend the allocation of $25,000 from the budget of the Holmes Student Center to update the building’s audio and video equipment was passed.

“We’re looking at ways to improve the campus quickly and as cost-effectively as possible,” Quick said.

Both Quick and SA President Elliot Echols showed their condolences for the death of Steven Agee II at the meeting. Quick said NIU needed to put differences aside and come together as a family in honor of Agee.

“We pay for this school. This is our family,” Quick said.

Echols said he was proud of the Senate and encouraged them to continue to be student leaders.

The Senate passed a resolution to extend their condolences to the Agee’s family and friends.

Thirty-eight out of 40 senators attended the meeting.