DeKALB | Faculty Senate President Paul Stoddard encouraged students and their families to speak out about the financial situation of state universities Wednesday at University Council.

Stoddard’s plea came hours before Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed a $19 million allocation to fund the renovation of the NIU Stevens Building.

On Friday, the Northern Star mailed and published an open letter to Blagojevich to address school funding from the state.

The letter came after recent articles published about the conditions of the Stevens Building and the Pleasant Street Art Annex on top of continued decreases in state education funding.

“It was right on target. [They] made the points that I’ve been making all along,” said Illinois Rep. Bob Pritchard. “The governor has got to look at some of the hard choices that we have to make. There is no bigger priority then education.”

NIU President John Peters urged concerned students to write letters of their own to local representatives to press the issue.

“This was a group of concerned students who happen to have the power of ink,” Peters said of the Star’s letter. “I was really proud when I read it. I’m hoping that it has some impact.”

Though Blagojevich allocated the funding, it will still have to be approved by the state legislature.

“For all the yelling and screaming faculty and staff may do about it, that’s always seen – to some degree – as self-serving in Springfield,” Stoddard said at University Council. “But they do listen to students; they do listen to the parents of students.”

Peters said despite all of the issues and problems Illinois currently faces, others are pleading their cases for aid and NIU should too.

“Clearly, that support for education includes the buildings and the capital needs that we have to maintain,” Pritchard said. “The basic issue is how do you pay things as you go.”

The office of the governor has not yet officially replied to the letter, but said one will be produced soon.