Interest in Burmese culture now has a home in a new student group at NIU.

In a unanimous vote Sunday night, the Student Association Senate passed a bill approving the creation of the Burma Interest Group-Northern Illinois University.

Our vision is to foster a greater understanding of the history, culture and politics of Burma, said Cindy Kleinmeyer, president of BIG-NIU and a political science graduate student. NIU is the only college in the world that has a Burmese center of studies.

“Right now, we’re a rag-tag team,” said Rey Ty, a political science graduate student and secretary for the group. Kleinmeyer, Ty and Tyler McKellar, also a political science graduate student, came before the senate to plead their case.

The group is associated with the Center for Southeast Asian Studies on campus, Kleinmeyer said. However, they said they wanted to show that there are differences in the Southeast Asian cultures.

Two other potential organizations were up for recognition – the Campus Girl Scouts and the NIU Footbag Club. However, representatives from both groups were not present at the meeting, SA Vice President Andrew Becerra said.

Keith Kruchten, Residence Hall Association president, proposed a 10 percent increase in room and board for the residence halls and said it would be necessary for maintenance work on the halls.

Money left after the maintenance would go to an emergency fund for Student Housing and Dining Services. The emergency fund would be used for emergency repairs that arise in the residence halls.

The original recommendation made by the Room and Board Advisory Committee was set at 8 percent, but Kruchten said he thought it was necessary to increase.

Last year, room and board rates were raised 4 percent on average.