The NIU chapter of the NAACP is giving its support to two students recently ticketed with jaywalking.

Richard Baker, president of the NIU chapter of the NAACP, said the unidentified female students were walking on Stadium View Drive when they slipped on the street. They were both issued tickets by University Police. The cases went to court where they were found guilty and fined $65. The two are appealing the case, Baker said.

“Everyone around here jaywalks. If you are going to do it to some, you have to do it to everyone,” Baker said.

Baker said the situation should not have gone so far and should have been handled internally. Michael Nelson, the NAACP director of college chapters, will be meeting with NIU

President John La Tourette to discuss the situation.

“The university should be ashamed. These young ladies deserve a written apology from the university. A lot of students complain they’ve been harassed by University Police,” Baker said.

Baker said the UPs do not seem to be sensitive to minority needs and more minorities need to be represented on the police force.

“The law says you can’t walk on the road. There’s also a city ordinance that can be enforced,” said UP Sgt. Ed Bohn. “Normally a ticket is issued if the person didn’t want to obey the law.”

But some students disagree with how the situation was handled. “I think the law is going to make their own rules. I think this is going to continue to happen. Everyone jaywalks everyday,” said Tricia Thomas, member of NAACP.

“This is only one of the many situations or problems that black students have to deal with and will continue to deal with. I feel no justice will be done,” Thomas said.

Another NAACP member said the university should be responsible for the tickets. “I thought it was pretty stupid. I think the university should pay the fine. It shouldn’t have gone as far as court, the university should have taken care of it,” said NAACP member Cherie Simmons.

Baker said NIU students can write letters to La Tourette if they feel the university was wrong or if they have had similar problems. “The time is now to address problems students have had with the university,” he said.