On the eve of a revised landlord-tenant ordinance’s first reading, the Student Senate resolved its approval of the fact-finding process.

Senate speaker Kevin Miller addressed the senate and spoke about the landlord/tenant ordinance Sunday night. After problems within the ordinance, several landlords have decided to try and dissolve it.

This issue will affect many NIU students who live in apartments, Miller said.

Because it will affect students, the senate voted in favor of the resolution, which supports the city of DeKalb’s fact-finding committee investigating the need of a landlord-tenant ordinance that increases rights for the city’s apartment dwellers.

A revised ordinance, which first was proposed last year, will go before the DeKalb City Council for first reading at 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 200 S. Fourth St.

“We need a lot of students to go to the meeting and show their support,” Miller said.

The issue dominated a light slate for a senate used to marathon-like sessions.

In other business, Senator Jeff Meyer represented the finance committee, which covered organizational requests for funding.

The senators considered nine different organizations. Present Perfect Modeling Organization and Rhythm Nation Dance Group both received $400, which is the allotted amount for new organizations.

The Women’s Alliance, the Paintball Club and the Indian Student Association all received more than $1,550 on committee recommendations. The four remaining organizations were tabled until later meetings because they requested questionable amounts.

These amounts, however, are not set in stone. The senate must approve the amounts first, Meyer said.

Senators also heard the first reading of the bill extending bus routes to Fox Valley Mall in Aurora. With the bill’s future approval, an allocation of $9,500 from the Mass Transit budget is required to create regular routes to the mall. If approved, the bus route will begin in Spring 2002.

“We went with the bus route that a majority of students wanted, and the Fox Valley one was it,” said Christy Hartnett, director of transportation.

Four new student organizations also received SA recognition Sunday night. The Paul Robeson Society, D.I.V.I.N.E-Women of Culture, Making Things Happen and A.L.M.A, the Association of Latino Movement and Accreditation, all received recognition, but will not yet receive funding.

The last bit of meeting business was the opening of vacant senate seats. As of 8 a.m. today, the SA will accept applications from senate-hopefuls, Miller said.