A resolution for the Chicago City Council to request a legislative investigation of "several racist incidents" at NIU was assigned on Wednesday to the council's Inter-Governmental Committee for further study.

Chicago 9th Ward Alderman Robert Shaw, who introduced the resolution, said the committee will send invitations to NIU President John LaTourette and various faculty members and students to participate in testimonies of racist incidents at the university.

Ald. Shaw said the committee will base its decision of whether to request the Illinois General Assembly's House of Representatives to conduct the investigation on information gathered from the testimonies.

The investigation would include the firing of CHANCE counselor Martha Palmer, allegations of a DeKalb-area police department employee making racial slurs while on duty and the January 1988 Holmes Student Center Bookstore incident in which four black students were accused of shoplifting.

Ald. Shaw's brother, Rep. William Shaw of the 34th District, proposed Tuesday to House Speaker Michael Madigan that the state appropriations committee conduct a study of "racist policies" at Illinois universities. Rep. Shaw said that Madigan approved the proposal and that the committee will be formed by January.

The Shaws became concerned with institutional racism at NIU when they visited the campus on Nov. 10 to listen to testimonies from the Students for the Freedom of Martha Palmer.

To keep students informed about AIDS and how to avoid it, several NIU groups have teamed up for an Awareness Day at the Homes Student Center.

Today, several guest speakers will be on hand to talk about the disease in the Heritage Room from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

NIU's AIDS Awareness Day, co-sponsored by the Health Enhancement Center, the Student Association for Minority Relations, and the Gay-Lesbian Union is geared toward college students to offer tips on safe sex and preventative measures.

Carol Sibley, Communicable Disease Control nurse at the Health Enhancement Center, said she will be speaking about AIDS testing at NIU, costs and counseling sessions.

AIDS tests identify the presence of the virus that causes the disease. A positive test does not necessarily mean the person will develop AIDS.

"There are many people who don't know enough about the disease," said Lisa Gunn, Student Association welfare adviser. "There is a stigma attached to it (AIDS), and we're trying to decrease that stigma on this campus."

Two films about AIDS, "AIDS-A Decision for Life" and "People Like Us," will be shown at various times in the Heritage Room.

Also, a brochure advising about safe sex and preventative measures will be available.

Gunn described the brochure as "graphic in its description about what is unsafe (and) one of the best brochures on the topic."

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a fatal virus that attacks the body's immune system, making the victim more susceptible to sickness and disease. The AIDS victim does not die of the virus itself, but rather the illnesses that accompany the virus.

Those most exposed to the virus are homosexual males, intravenous drug users who share needles, and prostitutes. Although these people have the greatest chance of getting AIDS, people outside these groups are by no means excluded from the danger. AIDS, however is not spread by casual contact.

A representative from the GLU said AIDS is no longer a disease for homosexuals, as once thought, and everyone must be made aware of the facts about the disease.