A resolution in opposition of sending all tuition paid to public universities to the state and then waiting for it to be sent back was unanimously passed at Sunday’s Student Association Senate meeting.

“There is no guarantee that all the money paid to NIU could come back to NIU,” Nelms said.

In his executive speech to the senate, SA President Kevin Miller said this resolution would head off the bill, also known as Bill 1263, before it could get a chance to be voted on.

The only vocalized dissension to the resolution was along the lines of the clarity of the bill itself.

Senator R.J. Gravel said he thought no one there could explain the bill to the senate.

The senate adjourned for a 10 minute meeting for review of the bill before voting on the resolution.

Ultimately, the bill passed with two abstentions.

Also in Miller’s speech, he talked about the $5 billion shortfall in the state budget. Miller said the governor’s office is asking all higher education offices to set aside 8 percent of their operating budgets into a reserve account.

“This is my personal opinion that this is being done to cut higher education without actually cutting higher education,” Miller said. He warned that most people downstate “don’t have a handle on everything” and are still uncertain of the budget situation.

A resolution calling for additional emergency call boxes also was passed by the senate. The bill calls for NIU to look into adding more call boxes, specifically for the parking lot behind Anderson Hall and the Engineering Building.

During discussion toward the end of the meeting, Senator Crystal Hoppe said that the SA finance committee has not yet met to make final budget recommendations.

Gravel added that he was told budget recommendations would not be released until July 1, and he has yet to see an administration budget.

SA Treasurer Shaun Crisler was not in attendance at the meeting.