Northern Star

RHA may add cable channel

By Greg Feltes | January 13, 2004

Students living in residence halls clamoring for White Sox and Cubs games on their televisions could be aided by a new voting system, but hurt by the upcoming formation of a new cable channel. As previously reported in the Northern Star, the residence...

Student expands scope

By Greg Feltes | January 13, 2004

Philosophy and engineering normally aren’t associated with each other, but that didn’t stop Vinod Lakshmipathy from receiving recognition in the former, despite a background in the latter. The department of philosophy awarded Lakshmipathy the C. Mason...

Indie rock group O.A.R. develops mainstream following

By Greg Feltes | January 12, 2004

Fans of acronyms and rock music alike should keep Feb. 6 open because the indie rock band Of a Revolution, better known as O.A.R., is coming to the Convocation Center. The band’s stop at NIU is one of many college venue concerts scheduled on its tour...

Admissions soar due to football success

By Daralyn Richardson | January 12, 2004

NIU football appearances in USA Today, on Fox Sports Net and ESPN2 have not only increased the popularity of NIU, but also the incoming applications for the 2004-’05 school year. For the last few years, enrollment for the freshman class has gone up....

DugOut ready to dish out food

By Casey Toner | January 12, 2004

The DuSable DugOut, which has been under renovations for the past month, is remodeled and open for business, said Bob Albanese, associate vice president of Finance and Facilities. Since undergoing construction in December, the DuSable DugOut encountered...

Ready to Rock

By Greg Feltes | January 12, 2004

Staind will complete the feat of selling more than eight million albums, garnering international acclaim. They will perform Feb. 8 at NIU’s Convocation Center. The modern rock band is best known for its single, “It’s Been Awhile,” which spent...

Athlete arrested for issuing fake ID

By Libby John | January 12, 2004

Dan Sheldon, a junior wide receiver on the NIU football team, was arrested Dec. 5 and charged with unlawful issuance of an identification card at Amnesia, 1000 W. Lincoln Highway. According to DeKalb police, Sheldon gave William Toy a California driver’s...

Phone renewals end

By Megan Rodriguez | January 12, 2004

Today is the last day for phone renewals at Founders Memorial Library. After today, students will only be able to renew books in person or online, said Stephen Wright, associate dean for public services at Founders Memorial Library. “Due to budget cuts...

Funding for ’05 up in air

By Greg Feltes | January 12, 2004

The first domino in determining NIU’s budget for next year will fall when the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s recommendation becomes public later this month. NIU President John Peters said the university has received no indication of how big...

Water’s content near safe levels

By Dave Gomez | January 12, 2004

City and university officials are closer to reaching a long-term solution to high copper levels in NIU’s water. “The city is taking a look, did some testing and has changed the mix of the water coming to NIU,” said Bob Albanese, director of NIU’s...

Construction nears completion

By Cara Donfrio | December 9, 2003

An old phrase reads, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

If the plans of school officials work out, there will be plenty of beholders on the NIU campus soon. The construction surrounding Cole Hall should be completed soon and Altgeld Hall, the intricately-designed castle, is scheduled to be open by September.

The work being done between Neptune and Cole is phase two of NIU’s Storm Water Improvement Project, an $8.5 million endeavor designed to improve campus problems. One reason was because Watson Creek’s ecosystem had become unbalanced, making it difficult for wildlife to exist comfortably. The wildlife was moved and the water was drained in an attempt to make a fresh start.

The second goal of the program was the prevention of flooding in buildings close to the water. New sewer lines were put in and foliage was removed to allow the water to flow more safely.

The program was started in summer 2001 and since its commencement, students have not been pleased with having to skirt the construction.

The project also caused the inconvenience of Normal Road closure for two days last March.

The construction has had several projected completion dates, but Patricia Perkins, assistant to the vice president of Finance and Facilities, recently told the Northern Star that most of the work is done. What remains are minor touch-ups such as painting light poles and planting grass.

While the Storm Water Improvement Project is almost complete, Altgeld Hall is going to take a little longer.

Its reconstruction began in January 1999, and Joseph King, assistant director of Public Affairs, laughingly said that its date of completion has been pushed back several times.

"They’re always telling us eight months from now," he said.

King shared a brief history of the impressive structure.

"Altgeld used to have everything," he said, referring to the fact that the castle was NIU’s first building. "The gymnasium, classrooms, everything!"

Five years ago, NIU was granted $19.5 million from the state of Illinois to remodel its trademark building. As work proceeded, it became clear that more money was going to be needed to complete the task.

Asbestos and structural problems made work more difficult.

NIU petitioned the state for an extra $5 million and the grant was approved. The latest due date for the building is this September. When it does open, it will be a "multi-use" building containing everything from offices to an art gallery, Perkins said.

While current projects are occupying both students and administrators, NIU does have more improvements slated to begin.

Perkins gave a list of new projects which include redesigning the visitor parking lot, putting in new underground steam lines and renovating the Stevens Building.

Peters’ contract extended to 2010

By Jaime Swanson | December 5, 2003

NIU’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously Thursday to extend President John Peters’ contract until 2010 and raise his paycheck about $4,000 to a yearly salary of $272,950. A review of the president’s three years at NIU prompted the trustees to recognize...

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