As I read Tuesday’s Northern Star article on the “big game” vs. Toledo, I couldn’t help but laugh at the juxtaposition of Provost Ivan Legg’s comments and President Peters’ actions. The provost stated what should be obvious: “Higher education should be the priority.” Peters, however, blatantly undermined this statement by taking out the full-page ad encouraging students to attend the game. If our president doesn’t put academics first, why are we paying him? It’s something to think about, NIU.

I could not attend the game because I was one of the few that actually went to my night class. When it ended, I walked to the bus stop at DuSable and waited for the Circle Left bus to take me home to Stevenson. After about 15 minutes, the bus came, and we made it to Annie Glidden Road before the driver informed us the buses couldn’t get through to the residence halls because of the game. I thought about this situation, and I asked myself how hard it could have been to foresee this situation. The least the university could have done was notify students that the bus routes to the residence halls would be disrupted.

Upon arriving at Stevenson, I looked out from the 11th floor lounge, expecting to see a throng of cars and people blocking the street. Imagine my surprise when I realized that the roads were perfectly clear from Stevenson all the way to the Convocation Center! Why couldn’t the buses run through, even if they avoided the arena? I realize the security or parking people want to keep order, but having the parking attendants move the roadblock for the Huskie buses would not add much work to their jobs.

I am really wondering whether this distraction (not attraction) of a game was worth it. Many of the normal workings of the university were disrupted, classes were emptier and students who focus on academics were effectively penalized. And all this for a game our team didn’t even win!

Ashley Wager

Senior, foreign language and literature