NIU students now have serious representation downstate.

The representation comes in the form of Kevin O’Kelly, a senior economics major and Student Association chief of staff. O’Kelly has been elected as the new student member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. He also serves as the student representative to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

“I’m excited to serve,” O’Kelly said. “I’ve been working with SAC [Student Assistance Commission], seeing some great student leaders go through the position.”

O’Kelly said his purpose on the committee is to give student opinion on the issues of higher education at hand.

“I’m the one that says, ‘students don’t want more tests,’” said O’Kelly, using the example of testing to illustrate his point. He said the hot topics are MAP grants that are getting cut and tuition increases, which are being looked into by the board.

O’Kelly said these changes could potentially affect all students, not just fifth-year college students.

“The SAC has been saying this for years,” said O’Kelly. He said the board is now finally looking into the matter, with the formation of an “affordability committee,” intended to determine what is to be done about the higher education funding changes.

This is O’Kelly’s second year at NIU. He went to the College of DuPage for two years.

“I like to go back and talk to the students in the halls,” said O’Kelly. He said he goes to RHA meetings, even though he is not a member, because he thinks that there is a good mix of traditional and non-traditional students living in the residence halls who need representation.

O’Kelly also was involved in student government at DuPage.

“The first thing I did was find out when the elections were,” O’Kelly said about when he first arrived at NIU. “I was really interested in getting involved in it again.”

The IBHE is comprised of 15 people, with one student representative. The purpose of the board is to discuss issues that affect higher education in Illinois.