In order to relieve the hassles of NIU students who must travel from one apartment complex to the next looking for housing, the Student Association Tenant Union is hosting a Housing Bazaar Feb. 18 and 19.

Carey Ward, SA Tenant Union adviser, said landlords, NIU’s Student Legal Assistance, the DeKalb City Council, the Tenant Union and students will attend the bazaar so that “students can shop around and look at all the apartments,” he said.

About 14 landlords will have pamphlets about their complex and will answer any questions, Ward said. In addition, Legal Assistance representatives will be present to answer any questions concerning the lease and the security deposit, he said.

Dan Clayton, Tenant Union member, said the City Council will be represented by the Code Enforcement Office. Representatives from the DeKalb Police and Fire departments will attend to answer any questions concerning housing codes, fire codes, parking regulations, boarding house regulations and any other general questions, Clayton said.

In other business, the SA Senate last night failed to pass a $162 supplementary funding request from the Tenant Union with a vote of 23-14 with two abstentions.

Clayton, who requested the extra funding, said the request was for 18 gallons of beverages, at $9 per gallon, to serve at the bazaar. He said serving the beverages would give the Tenant Union a look of professionalism, and it will make everyone comfortable.

SA Senator Michael Stumpf said, “I am entirely opposed to the motion. The SA has a policy not to fund for food and no organization should be able to break that, not even the SA.”

SA Treasurer Lisa Schlepp agreed that the SA has not funded for food in three years. She said if the Tenant Union wants to have a professional appearance, they should wear suits because a pot of coffee will not make them look better. Schlepp also asked Tenant Union members what happened to money from the union’s last fund-raiser.

Clayton responded that about $200 was acquired from the fund raiser, and the money went to paying a researcher. There is a lot of research that needs to be done to help the union do its job, he said.

Senate Speaker Karen Seymour said the bazaar is not just representing the Tenant Union, but also the whole student body. “If we (the SA) are not prepared, the town residents will not take us seriously,” she said.

SA Senator Jean Forst said, “The SA is a student organization as much as any other student organization, but they (the SA) will get the funding because they are the ones who vote for it. How will that look?”

Clayton said, “I was trying to make a point, (and) I was not trying to go against the rules.”

The bazaar will be held in the Regency Room, located at the Holmes Student Center, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Ward said. The bazaar is open for two days so that students will have a chance to discuss their options before they sign a lease, Ward said.