It’s not uncommon for students like resident assistants to spend their own money for school-related events like the odd Halloween or pizza party. In the past, these students were usually reimbursed within a few weeks.

However, thanks to the NIU accounting office, reimbursement could now take up to six months.

Why does the money of already struggling college students take so long to return?

According to Eugene Smith, Grant Hall South Council president, the process works like this: Students looking to be reimbursed by the school must first save their receipts and give them to their E-board treasurer.

The treasurer takes those receipts to the accounting office while the student waits for a refund. This usually happens months after the original purchase and when the semester is already over.

“The process takes like three months,” Smith said. “It’s way too long.”

An example of this can be seen in the case of Dave Sorrell, a junior public administration major who spent a mere $55 for Halloween treats last year.

“I wanted to promote my hall council,” Sorrell said.

However, according to Sorrell, it took the school four months to reimburse him.

Although Sorrell was not completely devastated by the prolonging of his $55 reimbursement, the situation makes one wonder: Why does it take so long?

Surely, the university is able to pay its professors, teaching assistants and cleaning staff in a reasonable amount of time. Why not the students as well?

Although it would appear as though a majority of students believe this process takes too long, not all students feel this way.

“It never seemed that long to me,” said Daniel Chou, Resident Hall Association president.

He accepts the long time allowed by the school and does not feel the process needs to be changed, he said.

“That’s just the way it is,” Chou said.

A possible reason for this could be the sheer number of students applying for reimbursement in one semester. However, after attending hall council and Residence Hall Association meetings, it is evident this isn’t the case. In fact, very few students spend their own pocket money for school and residence hall-related expenditures. The vast majority of money spent is then given to the hall councils, which spend student-allocated fees however they see fit. That said, one would expect the process of reimbursing the students not to take as long as it does in the case of students like Dave Sorrell.

The reason for this large time gap for repayment remains unclear.

One thing that is certain is that this student will not be expecting a reimbursement anytime soon.