NIU President John Peters has a full plate.

In addition to presiding over the university, he was elected as the Chair of the Council of Mid-American Conference Presidents by his fellow MAC presidents this past February, and has been active in his role since then.

For the next two years, Peters will focus on improving athletic and academic difficulties at MAC schools. Peters is one of the first chairmen who is not from Michigan or Ohio, which dominate MAC sports.

On his agenda is increasing media exposure of MAC athletics. He has started working with MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst to negotiate television packages to gain more Chicago-area TV coverage of MAC games involving NIU and other universities. He also hopes to schedule upcoming MAC media events in Chicagoland.

"I would like to do what I can to promote NIU sports to the MAC and the rest of the nation," Peters said.

One goal Peters has is holding this year's football media day in Chicago, which Director of Public Relations Melanie Magara described as "the press' first look at the teams for the year." Media day is usually held in Michigan or Ohio, where most of the MAC schools are, but Peters hopes to change that this year.

Peters said he was chosen as the chairman because it is not only recognized that NIU is a solid member of the MAC, but also because of NIU's competitive programs. Peters also has an athletics background.

"The other MAC presidents chose Dr. Peters because he does have extensive experience at large schools with very large athletic programs," Magara said. "He understands what a successful athletic program can bring to a university."

In the past, Peters has been involved with the athletic administration at both the University of Nebraska and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

One issue that will also be focused on is the new academic progress standards that the NCAA has put forth, which are aimed at trying to get higher graduation rates among student athletes. Peters said the implementation of those standards over the next few years will be a challenge.

A national issue that Peters intends on tackling for the MAC is sportsmanship and fan behavior. Although there have been few occasions where Peters has witnessed problems in these areas at NIU, he said that there have been MAC games in which NIU has been involved in where there have been some "post-game antics that were not appreciated."

To combat these situations, Peters said it starts with having enough security and making sure that the visiting teams are visibly protected. But just that is not enough.

"We have to do some education," Peters said. "I think everyone has to get involved."

The wind blew hard, but it only made the flags flutter harder.

Students and DeKalb residents assembled at King Memorial Commons on Wednesday night despite the chilling wind and cold rain for the Support the Troops Rally organized by the NIU Veterans Club.

Carrying umbrellas and shrinking from the strong wind, the small crowd of supporters bore flags, signs and pictures of their loved ones.

Kathleen Brim, a local resident, carried a picture of her son-in-law Dennis Medina with his 1-year-old son, taken two days before he was deployed.

Medina, a former NIU student now stationed on the border of Syria, missed seeing his son's first steps because of the war.

"[Medina] said the only news they hear is anti-war protests, and it's very demoralizing to the troops," Brim said. "I'd like to see more shows of support."

Prepared for the wet weather, a canopy had been set up and speakers were covered with garbage bags provided by club members.

Color guards from the DeKalb County Marine Corps carrying four flags marched to the canopy, followed by a singing of the Star Spangled Banner.

Amanda Weisbacker, Army veteran and wife of a Gulf War veteran, was the first speaker at the rally.

"The troops are over there doing the job they've been trained to do," Weisbacker, a former vice president of the club, said. "What we can do best is support the friends and family left behind."

She reminded the listeners to call and check on anyone who has a loved one overseas.

"You may not agree with the war but you have to agree with the great job our soldiers are doing," she said as she finished her speech.

Sandra Davis, wife of a Vietnam war veteran, spoke next and commented on the lack of support for families left behind and the hardships they face.

"Even though it's cold out here, our hearts are warm with support for our troops," Davis said.

The speakers were followed with a prayer by Jake Waddle from the Lutheran Campus Ministries for the troops and innocent civilians in Iraq.

A reading of the names of the soldiers deceased and missing in action followed.

Chris Collins, a senior geography major and a former active duty soldier, said it was very hard listening to the names being read as he was hoping he wouldn't hear a familiar name.

The rally ended with the color guards marching out to the bagpipes.

"It gives us a sense of relief that there are people out there who feel the same pain that your feeling," said Maria Seda, sophomore early childhood education major, who attended the rally to show support for her best friend and others fighting in Iraq.

National representatives from the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity suspended the NIU chapter's charter on Monday, said Larry Bolles, director of NIU's Judicial Office.

Subsequently, NIU and University Programming and Activities also issued suspensions on Tuesday because the fraternity is being investigated on several allegations, he said.

The Judicial Office is investigating individuals from the fraternity on allegations of alcohol abuse, drug dealing, hazing, intimidation and physical abuse, Bolles said.

These allegations came from members within the chapter, said Michelle Emmett, associate vice president of Student Affairs.

If the allegations against the individuals are proven to be true, the individuals may be subject to immediate expulsion from NIU, Bolles said.

There is a possibility the fraternity's charter may be revoked, Bolles said.

Lambda Chi Alpha is not the first house to be investigated, said Chris Juhl, activities adviser of Greek Affairs. It is important that any allegations brought forth be pursued, he said.

"We don't want to sit on these things," Juhl said. "When people say something, we can't just ignore it; we have to look into it."

Lambda Chi Alpha's national representatives investigated the matter when they were at NIU for a routine visit, Emmett added.

The members who came forward with the allegations were unknown at press time.

Members of Lambda Chi Alpha declined to comment on the matter, and representatives from the fraternity's national office were unavailable for comment.

Assistant News Editor Jenan Diab and Editor in Chief Barbara Bystryk contributed to this report.