DeKALB | Monday night at the DeKalb City Council meeting, an ordinance sent a message to NIU students: study.

Large outdoor drinking events on the day prior to and of NIU’s Reading Day have been banned in DeKalb.

Other major topics debated were the installation of wayside horns and the expansion of Pine Acres Care Center.

Reading Day was created to ensure students have enough time to study for final exams. But in recent years, many students have decided to use the day to have large outdoor parties where alcohol is usually present. Some council members thought there was no point to ban the outdoor events on the day prior to and of Reading Day.

“I don’t think it is necessary to ban the parties on the day before reading day,” said 5th Ward Alderman Pat Conboy.

The 5-2 vote in favor of the ban demonstrated the council members’ sentiment that the events encourage underage drinking, as well as defeat the purpose of Reading Day.

For five years, DeKalb officials also have planned to install wayside horns at intersections throughout the city to relieve residents from the blaring noise the trains make as they come through downtown. After various setbacks, the plan was approved. The installation of the horns is expected to take place in spring 2007.

The topic was brought to the liquor commission, which wanted to keep the status quo. The city council disagreed and decided to pass the ordinance, thus banning the parties on the day before and of Reading Day.

Pine Acres Care Center plans to expand their facility and install a new storage area. Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan expressed his concern as to whether or not the new storage area will inconvenience residents who use Second Street.

“If you could put your storage facility on Fourth Street instead of Second, then everybody wins,” Kapitan said.

After much discussion, the ordinance passed in a unanimous vote with the expectation of placing the storage facility on Fourth Street.

Additionally, during the citizens’ comments section, Club 122 owner McKinly-Paul Baggett came to show his appreciation for the DeKalb Police Department. Homecoming weekend is the biggest and most hectic for the club, Baggett said. He said the police went out of their way to maintain a peaceful environment and prevent any type of physical altercation.

“I just wanted to say thank you for all your help,” he said.

The next city council meeting is on November 13th.