NIU should try harder to get donations for its academic departments and residence halls.

The fundraising for the new athletic training facility proves big things can be accomplished if adequate effort is put forth. If campus departments applied this principle or received stronger administrative backing, the number of problems caused by budget cuts could be diminished.

Campus administrators have already raised $5.1 million of their $7 million goal for the new Academic and Athletic Performance Center. These funds have come solely from private donors. President John Peters said in Monday’s Northern Star no money for the project would be coming from student funds or state money.

These efforts are truly great. The university should apply such efforts to other departments and facilities, which have been hurting. Campus budget cuts, which in past semesters have limited the use of paper for some academic departments, led to difficulties in building repairs. Cuts also led to a shortage of professors in some academic fields. Budget shortfalls could have far less impact if these departments could conjure up some support from private donors.

Departments such as Student Housing and Dining Services and other academic areas could greatly benefit from the efforts put forth by the administrators and campus athletic teams. It would be a major step in the right direction if residence halls could get funding from donors for their repairs, as well as for their security and staffing needs.

If the university made private donors aware that students are unable to receive handouts and study guides for some classes, or that many students are being taught by temporary instructors, maybe these problems could be fixed.

A university with the growth rate and the potential NIU has should take care of these essential needs. It should not be in an increasingly needy state. Administrators and donors should be celebrated for their efforts to make this campus a far more attractive place to attend classes and athletic events. Now all they need to do is put forth the same efforts toward making classrooms a better environment for learning, and residence halls more welcoming for incoming students.