I applaud the Student Association’s Governmental Affairs Director Paulette Tolene’s advocacy of greater student involvement in local government. Please continue to foster activism, but pick your battles wisely. Cheap beer should not top the agenda.

A higher priority should be safer conditions and choice of venues for a growing and diversifying population. The council has repeatedly denied citizen choice by restricting new licenses in 1992, 2000 and 2004. When a Class A liquor license last became available, more than a dozen potential proprietors were turned away. Ponder this when you pass any of DeKalb’s dormant shells. More businesses would mean more jobs, safer occupancy levels and greater variety for consumers.

Instead, the existing oligopoly of 11 bars has been allowed to expand their occupancies, making responsible supervision tenuous. The result: a 2003 drowning death of NIU junior Marlon Blue, a 2005 knifing, licensees paying out settlements in wrongful death litigation, and more DUI arrests annually than in Aurora, with a population three time as large as DeKalb’s.

When running for office, Liquor Commissioner Frank Van Buer promised that fixing local liquor practices was high priority. A year and a half later, this is the first real change proposed. It fixes little, but symbolically addresses a failed campaign pledge.

DeKalb’s antiquated home-rule liquor code varies from updated state trade practices. “Clerical errors” remain uncorrected and best practices have never been considered. Local proprietors continue to exploit loopholes unaffected by the pending vote.

Bumps in bar prices may dent a binge drinker’s pocketbook, but never fear: DeKalb has no pricing floor on packaged liquor.

Northern students deserve venues for safe socialization, some of which will involve alcohol. If the city fails to promote licensed venues to fulfill need, it will happen unsupervised elsewhere, as Friday’s letter suggests.

I urge the S.A. to mobilize student voices advocating for free enterprise in the marketplace.