Despite inaction on the issue for a year, NIU will seek state money to pay for the renovation of Cole Hall in the near future.

Michael Malone, vice president of university advancement, said it was unlikely that the university will privately raise the $7.7 million needed to renovate Cole Hall and build another 500-seat lecture hall. The primary reason is obligation.

“It’s an obligation of a state to provide the opportunity to its citizens to get college degrees, and I don’t want to let the state off the hook,” Malone said.

Because NIU is a state university, both Malone and Eddie Williams, vice president of finance and facilities and chief of operations, feel the state should pay for the renovation.

“This is an obligation of the state,” Williams said.

But another reason could be interest. Malone said the Cole Hall issue has not attracted any major donors that could pay for a lot of the renovation.

“It’s not something donors are generally interested in,” Malone said, later stating that the renovation is “not a promising project for private support.”

Even though it has been nearly a year since then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised $40 million of state money for the demolition and reconstruction of Cole Hall, Malone said he believes the state will approve funding for it soon.

That funding could possibly come from the capital bill which contains funding for infrastructure projects all over the state. In addition to funding Cole Hall, funding for renovating the Stevens Building is also in the capital bill.

However, neither Malone nor Williams have ruled out the possibility of having other sources fund the renovation. Williams said they are looking into the other federal, state or local “possibilities that may come about.”

“We’re trying our best to get it addressed,” Williams said.

But while the university will not be fundraising for Cole Hall, it has focused its sights on other areas. Williams said the TrueNorth campaign, which aimed to raise $150 million by June 2010, is nearing its end. According to the campaign’s Web site, TrueNorth has raised $120 million as of October 2008. That money, Williams said, will fund several endowed scholarships and professorships.

Lauren Mock, vice president of the Student Association, said Cole Hall could be funded by a combination of public and private money. However, she reiterated that it should be the obligation of the state.

“Right now, it is the right decision,” Mock said.