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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

GLU holds open house to celebrate anniversary

By Deborah Costello | April 5, 1990

The Gay/Lesbian Union held an open house celebrating their 20th anniversary at NIU in Swen Parson Hall Wednesday. "The main purpose of the annual open house is to try and help those faculty and students who are curious as to what the GLU is all about,"...

NIU performs ‘Between Daylight and Boonville’

By Claudia Curry and Johanna Harris | April 5, 1990

For those of you who have not yet experienced the brilliant NIU production of "Between Daylight and Boonville," the Department of Theatre Arts will perform the final shows today, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Stevens Building Players Theatre. "Between...

West residence halls, OCR blackout blamed on switch

April 4, 1990

A blackout at NIU's west residence halls lasting more than 30 minutes late Tuesday afternoon was caused by a faulty Commonwealth Edison power switch. Bart Wilcox, a Com Ed spokesman, said electricity can be transferred from one powerline to another manually...

Democrats elect new party chairman

By Stewart Warren | April 4, 1990

The DeKalb County Democrats elected a more conservative member as party chairman Monday night. Gene Sparrow, 43, was elected party chairman by a vote of 200-180 over DeKalb resident Lynne Switzky. Bill Brady, former party chairman and DeKalb attorney,...

Approval to publish evaluations sought

By Deborah Costello | April 4, 1990

Student Association committee members have one week to polish up a proposal to publish teacher evaluations.

The SA Academic Affairs Committee will go before the University Council April 11 to gain approval to publish teacher evaluations.

Jim Mertes, SA senator and committee member, said the UC Comittee A suggested four modifications before the proposal reaches the council.

The UC committee members suggested publishing the proportion of students participating in the evaluation, allowing the evaluation forms to be returned to instructors, publishing results for each individual class—not just for each instructor—and allowing the publication to be voluntary for each instructor, Mertes said.

Mertes said the Academic Affairs Committee conceded to the UC committee's demands, but had a "big problem" with the committee's insistence to have the publication voluntary instead of mandatory.

"Students should have a right to evaluate their teachers' performance, make comments on their performance and have those evaluations published regardless of if they agree," Mertes said.

But Sue Ouellette, the UC committee chairman, said the proposal will not be approved unless it is voluntary.

"Our primary concern is the issue of our right to confidentiality. The committee is concerned with safeguarding the constitutionality of course evaluation and how it will be used," Ouellette said.

"There isn't any outlandish opposition to the proposal. Many of the faculty support the students suggestions. We are considering the revised proposal," she said.

The evaluations would include statistics of student assessments of their instructors based upon the the following five objective questions:

-Was the instructor able to communicate effectively?

-Did the instructor grade exams, quizzes and assignments fairly?

-Did the instructor place reasonable demands upon the student?

-Did the instructor convey a thorough knowledge of the subject?

-Was the instructor actively helpful to the student?

There would be five grading categories: (1) Strongly disagree, (2) Disagree, (3) Neutral, (4) Agree, (5) Strongly Agree.

Funding alternatives for the evaluations include selling advertising space within the packet itself, charging students who buy the publication, funding through the SA or NIU funding, Mertes said.

"We would like this to go into effect as early as next semester. That would mean students would be evaluating their teachers this semester," he said.

"This was an excellent opportunity for students and faculty to interchange their definite concerns on the issue," Ouellette said.

Greek candidates campaign for SA

By Michelle Isaacson | April 4, 1990

The Interfraternity Council announced its endorsement Sunday for John Fallon as Student Association president and Kathy Rosenberg for SA vice president. Fallon and Rosenberg presented their campaigns at the council's March 25 meeting. Rob McCormack, candidate...

Fallon gains support

By Maureen Morrissey | April 4, 1990

Campus Activities Board executives and some CAB coordinators endorsed Student Association Senate Speaker John Fallon for SA president. CAB President Brett White; Barry Moscowitz, Programming and Activities vice president; and Wendy Reid, vice president...

Jeray leads golfers past Tulane

April 4, 1990

NIU's women's golf team faced some very important challenges April 3 and 4, and the results were positive. The challenge: perform as good as possible in back-to-back dual matches at the Lakewood Country Club in New Orleans, La. The result: a solid performance...

Corporation eyes DeKalb site

By Greg Rivara | April 4, 1990

CHICAGO— DeKalb's anchor as the west end of the high-tech corridor was plunged Tuesday with Contel's announcement of bringing 300 new jobs to the area.

Gov. James Thompson said Contel's Great Lakes Operating Group will bring $10 million in investments to the DeKalb area, "further strengthening Illinois' leadership in the telecommunications field." Thompson's comments came Tuesday at a news conference in the State of Illinios Building with DeKalb and Contel officials.

The multi-state operation, scheduled to be fully operational in 1991, will create 100 new jobs and relocate 200 additional employees to the area. The jobs will be added to Contel's existing 150 area employees. Twenty percent of the jobs will be engineerial, along with financial personnel and supporting staff.

Charles Rexroat, president and general manager of Contel's Illinois Division, said the 300 additional Illinois jobs will make 1,100 Contel employees in Illinois.

Steven McClure, Department of Commerce and Community Affairs director, said DCCA will give DeKalb $750,000 for improvements needed with Contel's move, including roads, water and sewer systems and other services. DCCA also will give up to $300,000 for training new employees.

Contel's move is part of major restructuring over the next two years aimed at streamlining its management groups.

The communications firm will combine three regions and 12 divisions into six operating units that report to a sector headquarters in Atlanta, Ga.

The restructuring will cut the sector's 15,000 member work force by about 4 percent. Those cuts will mostly come from staff support positions.

The DeKalb-area site will serve Illinois, Indinia, Iowa, Minnesotta and the Dakotas as one of the six national operating groups. The company chose Illinois from the six states because of its central location, Rexroat said.

Rexroat said the company is looking at two possible area sites, including the Wurlitzer property on Gurler Road. Contel would not release the other site being considered. Officials do not know if they will buy a building or construct a new one.

DeKalb Assistant City Manager Gary Boden said site negotiations are being handled by Contel and private realtors. No timetable for the site selection was set, but Boden said he expects a decision "in a few weeks."

Contel reports earning more than $3 billion in annual revenues.

Faculty Senate replaces Faculty Assembly in fall

By Vickie Snow | April 4, 1990

Lobbying for a better higher education budget, reviewing a report by the Illinois Board of Higher Education committee and adjusting to the formation of the Faculty Senate are topics for today's Faculty Assembly meeting. The meeting will be held at the...

Forum hears minority concerns

By Ellen Skelly | April 4, 1990

Only two people showed up at the NIU Affirmative Action forum so the attendants had no problems having their concerns addressed. Affirmative Action Director Marilyn Monteiro and Assistant Director Rick Dearborn held an open forum Tuesday from noon to...

Sponsors of DUI Week set up two-car display

By Lisa Ferro | April 4, 1990

Students who drink and drive can expect cramped space according to two smashed cars with shattered glass, bent doors and twisted seats. The two-car display on Carroll Avenue was set up for DUI Awareness Week sponsored by Boost Alcohol Consciousness Concerning...

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