Many students have noticed a new series of fences outside DuSable Hall. What some may not have realized is these fences actually serve a purpose beyond enhancing the appearance of the landscape.

The fences were put up to redirect students to the walkways, said campus planning coordinator Jim Murphy.

“Students get off the buses and walk through the grass and it tears up the turf,” Murphy said.

NIU would never be able to maintain the landscape in the area due to the heavy foot traffic without fences, said Bob Albanese, associate vice president for Finance and Facilities.

“We hesitated to do it last year, but finally decided we need to,” Albanese said.

Northern Illinois Fence Co. installed the fences, which cost about $3,000, Albanese said.

The future of the fences may still be uncertain.

“There are young shrubs on the grounds right now,” Murphy said. “Once they mature, we may remove the fences because the shrubs will provide a solid barrier.”

Some students question whether the fences will provide any barrier at all.

“It is really easy for people to just step over them,” said Nick McDonough, senior media studies major. “They really won’t deter people from walking through the grass.”

Some students had other suggestions.

“The small fences will not hinder students from walking on the grass,” said Lissa Thompson, senior English major. “My advice is to run an [electrical] current through the fence.”

Tony Madsen, junior history major, had an idea to keep people from walking through the grass.

“It would be great if they made the sidewalks go directly to where people are trying to get to,” Madsen said. “Instead the sidewalks are going around in a circle.”