NIU’s President John Peters is scheduled to give a state of the university address today. The Northern Star has compiled a few suggestions President Peters should examine and take into consideration.

War against terrorism. We commend President Peters for the way he has handled the national crisis on a local level. The university needs to understand that these events have changed us as a generation and the faculty needs to be mandated to be more sensitive to students’ needs.

NIU status. Peters has been persistent with lobbying down in Springfield for monetary assistance in order to help NIU gain widespread recognition as a reputable university. Before this can happen, the renovations of Altgeld Hall need to be wrapped up. It has been under construction as long as current seniors can remember and we’re sure they’d like to see it in all its grandeur when the renovations are complete. It is the look of NIU and its area is one of the few sites prospective students get to see during open house.

Barsema Hall. The university is ready to embrace a new business college, replete with a state-of-the-art $20 million plus building courtesy of Dennis Barsema, as well as a top-of-the-line equipment and video games. However, the university’s main focus being on the business college isn’t in the best interests of the entire university. It shouldn’t take a hefty donation to spark interest in improving a college that is in much need of it, like the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dare we mention the intense heating system of Reavis Hall or mold problem in the basement of Cole Hall?

Honors program. This is one aspect of university life that was to broaden under the wing of President Peters. We have yet to see considerable changes or expansions take place within the program. Peters needs to be realistic about his expectations and encourage a program that makes the amount of necessary work actually worth it in today’s real world.

Parking. Trouble finding a parking spot on campus is a common gripe shared by many irate students. NIU has taken an active role in trying to remedy the problem with parking availability at Carrols Cinema, as well as tracking down the scoundrels who choose to use their permanent address as a means to acquire much-desired parking passes. The arena also

is supposed to relieve parking problems with its completion next fall. The university should reconsider its practice of overselling its parking passes that encourages and enrages lines of cars that circle the parking lots daily.

The Lagoon. The area generally is a sight for sore eyes until a huge hole in the ground obstructs the view. Fill it up already. The geese, ducks and even students don’t know where to go for a pleasant natural setting.

While Peters may not address each of these issues in his speech, we can hope that NIU will continue to enhance our surroundings, but we hope that those improvements do come in a timely fashion.