NIU student Harpreet Rehal was struck by an NIU Huskie Bus on Lucinda Avenue early Tuesday afternoon near the Chick Evans Field House.

DeKalb Police Corporal Jason Leverton of the DeKalb Police Department said Rehal, a nursing major, was taken to Kishwaukee Community Hospital.

“We currently know that she has a leg injury,” Leverton said.

Any information about the driver or if charges were filed was not available at press time.

Witness reports indicate Rehal was standing on or near a snow bank as a Huskie bus turned right onto Lucinda Avenue near University Circle. As the bus turned, Rehal walked into the bus’ path.

Senior marketing major Aaron Rahn said he was in the Village Commons Bookstore purchasing textbooks when a girl ran in saying, “Call 911.”

“I went outside, and a girl was lying on the ground,” Rahn said.

Senior marketing major David Schneider said he was shocked after the accident.

“It’s the first day of class, and someone gets hit?” Schneider said.

The accident once again brings up the issue of pedestrian safety on campus. Rehal’s injury comes just as student members of the Annie Glidden Task Force plan new recommendations to help alleviate problems on the busy road separating the campus from the residence halls.

Student Association president Ken Getty and Jessica Norwood, SA director of public affairs, are recommending:

— Installation of a gated fence located on the residence hall (west) side of Annie Glidden Road that would only let people out at designated crosswalks.

— Installation of a traffic light at the corner of Annie Glidden Road and Stadium Drive.

— Installation of a solar-powered light guard system on Annie Glidden Road between Crane and Hillcrest drives near the Grant parking lot. The light guard system includes many lights lined up on the ground on both sides of the crosswalk. Lights are activated by pedestrian activity and flash to forewarn oncoming traffic.

The task force is looking to funnel people toward the crosswalks, Getty said.

The SA also is working on a safety campaign to educate students. One of the many ideas for the campaign is to have street signs that give pedestrian safety facts. The SA would like to make and show short movies about pedestrian safety on Channel 8 in the residence halls.

“We’re hoping to have all the details finalized by the end of this month,” Getty said.

Senior marketing major Ryan Carlson said car and pedestrian safety shouldn’t be an issue; students should just look both ways.

“I really hope she’s OK,” Carlson said.