Northern Star

Health officials push Pap tests

By Megan Rodriguez | January 26, 2004

January is National Cervical Health Awareness Month, and DeKalb health officials are encouraging women to get Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer. Karen Grush, a public health administrator at the DeKalb County Health Department, said the goal of...

RHA proposes increase

By Nick Swedberg | January 26, 2004

Interest in Burmese culture now has a home in a new student group at NIU. In a unanimous vote Sunday night, the Student Association Senate passed a bill approving the creation of the Burma Interest Group-Northern Illinois University. Our vision is to...

Bromley conversion proposed

By Libby John | January 23, 2004

After a history of vandalism, drug activity and unstable ownership, the old Bromley Hall soon may be called home. The building was constructed in 1966 as a dormitory for 150 people. The building, located on 830 Edgebrook Drive, may be turned into either...

Group strives to break barriers

By Mike Neumann | January 23, 2004

NIU is increasing its awareness of disabilities through the Enhancing Success for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education project.

The group has proposed five primary recommendations, said Susan Vogel, a project director and research professor of literacy education.

The main recommendation is for professors to consider adding a paragraph in their syllabi that encourages students with disabilities to speak with faculty early in the semester about appropriate accommodations.

Other recommendations include increasing knowledge about disabilities for faculty members, offering on-site seminars and workshops for them, providing one-on-one consultation with professionals knowledgeable about disabilities and reviewing the policies and procedures pertaining to students with disabilities.

Vogel drew up the recommendations with the help of focus groups composed of students with disabilities.

“We recently invited students with disabilities to meet in focus groups to evaluate our Web site and provide suggestions,” Vogel said.

They provided her with helpful information, she said.

“Factors that students with disabilities identified as making a difference in their academic success are faculty who are knowledgeable about disabilities, legal mandates and the disabilities support services on campus,” Vogel said. “In addition, having policies and procedures that address specific issues surrounding disabilities can smooth the way for students with disabilities. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is faculty, administrators and staff who have a positive attitude toward providing accommodations.”

Vogel hopes the Enhancing Success project will help to break down barriers for disabled students.

Productivity of a … Professor

By Daralyn Richardson | January 23, 2004

The Illinois Board of Higher Education is planning to examine professors’ productivity levels at Illinois public universities. James Kaplan, chairman of the IBHE, initiated the issue of faculty productivity because the state remains in financial trouble....

Wrestler pleads not guilty to charges

By Nicholas Alajakis | January 23, 2004

Editor's Note: On August 24, 2012, the Northern Star redacted the name of a student originally named in this story. The student and various legal entities provided evidence to the Northern Star that the student had the charges discussed in this article...

Checking in at the Holmes hotel

By Mike Neumann | January 23, 2004

The Holmes Student Center Hotel, established in 1967, is home to 80 guest rooms and suites. “We have twin, queen and king bedrooms, two one-room suites and a two-room suite,” hotel manager Joyce Johnsonsaid, in a tone indicating she has said the line...

TV center to upgrade

By Libby John | January 23, 2004

Northern Television Center now has the opportunity to have two one-hour blocks on the DeKalb Government Access Channel. After being approved by the DeKalb City Council, NTC will do more expanded news programming, said Allen May, a general broadcast manager...

Biernacki up for official approval

By Libby John | January 23, 2004

Mark Biernacki may receive official approval to become the new DeKalb city manager at Monday’s city council meeting.

Along with approving him for the position, the city council also will discuss his potential salary, insurance benefits, severance pay and the rest of his employment agreement.

Several council members expressed concerns about his pay and severance agreement at the last council meeting. Biernacki’s negotiated salary is $10,439 more than previous city manager Jim Connors’.

Also up for final approval is a special-use permit to convert the building on 830 Edgebrook Drive into apartments. The permit would allow for 87 parking spaces.

The former dormitory once housed 150 residents and provided 40 parking spaces.

Paul Rasmussen, a community development director for DeKalb, said the building has been a problem that they have been working to solve for some time.

The council also will look into an intergovernmental agreement with DeKalb School District No. 428.

The agreement would bring the school district into discussions whenever a developer is interested in an annexation agreement for residential development.

City Attorney Margo Ely said the school and park districts always were invited to the discussions. This would just make it a formal agreement.

The council also will look to approve a special-use permit that would allow a drive-through facility at the former Red Lobster, 2470 Sycamore Road.

Joseph Freed and Associates, the realtor trying to sell the property, has not confirmed which restaurant would move into the location at Northland Plaza.

The city council will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St.