NIU’s College Republicans received a visit from the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate Jim Durkin during their meeting Wednesday at the Holmes Student Center’s Lincoln Room.

The current state representative of the 44th District gave a short speech about the issues important to him. He also took time to field questions from the audience.

“I want to provide you with the things I had,” Durkin said when asked what he would do in the Senate for college students.

The Westchester native graduated from Illinois State University in 1984 with a degree in criminal justice. Durkin told the audience that when he went to school, students could pay their own way. He said that most of the state higher education problems, such as higher tuitions and budget cuts, are local and state managed, however, he still would push for federal support.

“I will make sure that Pell Grants continue to be provided to students with low incomes,” Durkin said.

Durkin described his efforts in the General Assembly to make higher education affordable. He expressed pride over the prepaid college tuition program that he co-sponsored. This program allows parents to pay today’s prices now for their children’s future college education.

“I think it’s a good thing for the next generation,” he said.

Durkin added that he expects greater scrutiny in Springfield and at the universities when it comes to budgets.

“[Universities] can’t keep asking for tuition increases without explaining them,” he said. “They need to detail out exactly what they need the money for.”

The debate over Iraq was another topic Durkin expressed a strong opinion about.

The former chairman of Senator John McCain’s Illinois presidential campaign said he would support military action against Iraq if the president decides it is appropriate. He thinks weapons of mass destruction should be removed from Iraq and removal of the current regime should not be ruled out.

“[Hussein] can’t be pacified,” Durkin said.

Durkin also shared a message of student involvement in the election.

“College students make a difference in elections.”