Nepotism is defined by Merriam-Webster as “favoritism, as in appointment to a job, based on kinship.”

BOT Chair Murer said she is confident boundaries have not been crossed in employment or hiring practices at NIU.

“My whole time on the board, I haven’t seen anything. Had I, it would have been addressed,” Murer said.

State Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Hinckley) was not previously aware of some connections among families at NIU.

“I’ve never supported the notion. It’s definitely a bad practice,” Pritchard said. “I never thought it appropriate to hire family members for anything but a summer or temporary-type job.”

At the state level, Pritchard is familiar with connections in the workplace.

“It’s not unusual for office holders to encourage their kids to apply,” Pritchard said. “I suspect that maybe knowing someone opens some doors.”

Pritchard felt these types of hires could negatively affect morale.

“It’s wrong,” he said. “Those are the kinds of allegations that make people lose confidence in an organization. It raises judgments about the people approving those kinds of decisions.”

State Sen. Brad Burzynski (R-Clare) also did not know of the employee connections.

“I wasn’t even aware that Eddie had kids on staff,” Burzynski said. “I have to assume that they’re qualified.”

NIU employs large numbers of family members, President Peters said.

“The key is fairness, rules and attracting the best people you can,” Peters said. “We’ve had to make accommodations.”

McMillan advocates clarity in state hiring.

“Some of the recommendations we are making talk about when taxpayer money is involved in hiring a state employee. There needs to be clear job descriptions and qualifications,” he said.

There are situations where the hiring of family or friends is not necessarily a bad thing, according to William Tolhurst, an associate professor of philosophy.

“Nepotism is not always wrong,” Tolhurst said. As far as personal businesses go, “if someone hires only relatives, it may be bad for business, but it’s his business,” he said.

But at the state level, it is different, Tolhurst said. For state jobs, like working at NIU, candidates are hired on the basis of qualifications, he said. NIU is an equal opportunity employer.

“If a person is biased, the state cannot count on the best person being hired,” Tolhurst said.

David Morrison, assistant director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, agreed.

Morrison said while the personal interests of those in powerful positions may be to hire family or friends, it is not necessarily in the public’s interest to do so.

“There’s great temptation, but the reason for being there is to serve the public good,” Morrison said. “Because you are an authority figure and can hire and fire, and renew and issue new contracts, you must do so in a way that’s best for taxpayers.”

Continue reading this story by clicking on part four.