The Student Association Web site, launched on Sept. 18, may not be compliant with federal regulations.

Section 508 is a federal regulation stating all Web sites for government agencies must be accessible by all persons regardless of disability.

“Functionally, one thing that is a major problem is that the site is not Section 508-compliant,” said Steve Quinn, assistant design professor. “NIU has agreed to abide by those regulations for all new sites, and this is a new site.”

Although originally unaware of potential Section 508 compliance issues, SA Chief of Staff John Acardo said the SA is committed to serving all students through the Web site and will look into the issue further.

“We’re going to be talking with Jesse [Perez] about it … along with [SA President] Shaun [Crisler] to have a discussion about exactly what pertains from Section 508 and how we can adapt to it,” Acardo said. “It’s always been our mission to serve the students better, and this Web site is a great way to do that.”

Former NIU Student Trustee Jesse Perez designed the site. As of Sept. 21, Perez has received $5,400 for his services. The funding came from SA President Shaun Crisler’s executive allocations.

According to his Sept. 21 executive allocation report, Crisler wanted a new site because he could not remember the last time the site was updated.

“The Student Association’s Web site has been the same for years,” wrote Crisler in his report. “I can’t remember the last time it has been properly updated.”

Crisler also wrote that he is pleased with the updated site.

“There are a few minor things that need to be changed, but other than that it is a great improvement,” he wrote.

Perez said he is happy with the final design.

“We have had a great response,” Perez said. “The site is easy to navigate, the look is totally different from the previous site and the software made it possible to use a lot of catchy animations. [The SA] wanted a site that was not only informative and useful, but that also had an entertaining element that would be different from what students are used to seeing.”

Others familiar with Web design have different opinions.

“I would not pay a dime for a site like this,” Quinn said. “It is amateurish and a poor representation of the good work that the Student Association does for the campus. It should be trashed, and somebody that really knows about Web design should do this.”

Quinn said he believes the site is difficult to navigate because it forces the user back to its main page to access the menu.

“The menu should be available at all times in the site,” Quinn said.

Mike Gallo, Webmaster for the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee, has a different analysis.

“The site overall is OK,” said Gallo, who is studying at Columbia College in Chicago to be a graphic designer.

Gallo said that although the site has a “decent design,” it is difficult to read because it is too text-heavy.

A professional designer would be paid $2,000 to $2,500 for the site, but a student designer should be happy with $800, Gallo said.

Looking solely at the content for the site and not considering the design, M.J. Anderson of TREKK Cross-Media Communications in Rockford said he would estimate the cost of the site to be $7,000 to $10,000. Anderson does, however, have concerns about the site’s design.

“[The site is] breaking all kinds of human factors and interface design rules,” Anderson said. “[The site is] not giving users needed visual cues [and users are] not able to see where they are in the site.”

Perez was first exposed to Web design in one of his OMIS courses. Since graduating in 2001, he has had more time to learn about different types of software and become familiar with Macromedia Flash, the program used to design the SA site. Perez also has professionally designed Web sites for other NIU groups, including the Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity and the Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. In addition to serving as student trustee, Perez also worked for the SA as chief of staff for two years and as a staff member for one year.

Additional plans for the Web site include a site for the Senate that would include minutes, legislation and contact information, as well as an events calendar geared toward student organizations.

The SA Web site can be accessed at www.sa.niu.edu.