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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

Lot’s funding discussed

By Jim Wozniak | October 5, 1987

NIU will have to pay back 10 percent annually of the revenue bonds the university is using to pay for construction of a parking lot south of Founders Memorial Library, said Jim Harder, vice president for business and operations. The 10 percent will have...

Wed. noon concert features ‘rockapella’ style

By Lynn Hammarstrom | October 5, 1987

An a cappella song about bulimia is just one of the selections in the repertoire of the three woman band "Betty," which will be performing a noon concert this Homecoming Week in the King Memorial Commons. "Betty," a Washington D.C. band, who has dubbed...

HSC study shows ‘hidden’ damage

By Pam Schmidt | October 5, 1987

Preliminary studies of the damage on the top of the Holmes Student Center have revealed the possibility that the entire building might have to be resurfaced, NIU Physical Plant Director John Harrod said. Although NIU engineers originally planned to complete...

Car crash claims life of student

By Daron Walker | October 5, 1987

A fatal accident Sunday morning at the intersection of Lincoln Highway and Annie Glidden Road injured three NIU students, one of whom later died at St. Anthonys Hospital in Rockford. Ann Smith, driver of one of the cars, and Eric Johnson, a passenger,...

Officials examine new NIU constitution draft

By Suzanne Tomse | October 5, 1987

Copies of a draft of NIU's new constitution and bylaws will be sent to various university constituents this week. The move will draw the university one step closer to adopting the new document. The drafts, with the proposed changes, will be sent to such...

Greeks grant awards

By Christine Boike | October 5, 1987

The Black Greek Council participated in the Greek Scholarship Awards Presentation Thursday for the first time as NIU fraternities and sororities were recognized for outstanding achievements. BGC adviser Martha Palmer said the BGC does "want to cooperate...

Bacteria found in water samples

October 5, 1987

Bacteria which water department officials say is not harmful has been found in samples of water taken from two DeKalb homes this summer. Water Superintendent Gerry Bever said the bacteria found is not harmful and is "not unusual for water supplies." He...

Contest unifies halls in decorating theme

By Peggy Keslin and Suzanne Tomse | October 5, 1987

NIU's on-campus residents competed in a variety of activities for Unity Through Diversity Week including a hall decorating contest and sporting events. Lincoln Hall received the most points throughout the week and was the overall winner in the Residence...

Hospital fund-raising club seeks members

By Mark Indreika | October 5, 1987

Kishwaukee Community Hospital's fundraising club will kick off its annual drive this Thursday at 6 p.m. with a meeting of local volunteers. The club is seeking 700 members this year, said Dr. Robert Skabo, the drive's membership chairman. Skabo said membership...

Orchestra opens season at Egyptian Theater with

By Sandi Patyk | October 5, 1987

The Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, including some NIU students, opened its 10th season Sunday with "An Afternoon of Pops" at the Egyptian Theater. Conductor Arthur Montzka said the orchestra includes residents of DeKalb and non-music majors at NIU. "The...

‘Royalty’ chosen by judges for NIU court

By Sheri Forsell | October 5, 1987

As tradition calls, "Homecoming Hoedown ‘87" is rounding up a court of royalty. This year 31 students were nominated to represent their own organizations in the traditional homecoming court. From the 31 nominees, a panel of judges narrowed the field...

Students learn about lives of disabled

By Mark Indreika | October 2, 1987

In order to heighten the public's awareness about disabled people in our society, a demonstration table and lecture were two events held yesterday as part of Unity Through Diversity Week.

Services For Handicapped Students set up the demonstration table in the Holmes Student Center which allowed students to try out some of the aids used daily by the disabled.

Services Coordinator Sue Reinhardt said, "It's an opportunity for people to learn about the devices used by disabled individuals. There is a general lack of awareness in the population" about the disabled and some of the problems they face.

Among the items displayed at the table were a Braille writer and dictionary, a talking calculator and a closed-circuit TV designed to enlarge printed materials for visually-impaired students.

A wheelchair also was provided for students wishing to try one out.

Freshman Jorge Fonseca said, "I'd never been in a wheelchair before, and it was impossible for me to get through a pair of doors. So I could imagine for the first time how hard it is to be in a wheelchair."

People who came by the table also were given the opportunity to have their names typed in Braille and/or to receive a Braille alphabet.

Senior Leslie DiLorenzo said she thinks it is a good idea to have such demonstrations because it allows people to see how disabled people function in society.

Understanding the handicapped person in today's society was the theme of a lecture given in Sandburg Auditorium by NIU associate professor Elliott Lessen of the Learning, Development and Special Education Department.

Lessen taught his LDSE 200 class, a course about disabled people, in the student center and opened it up to the public.

Lessen said people with physical disabilities make up the nation's largest minority. He said there are about 37 million people in the United States with physical disabilities (not including deaf or blind people).

e said conversely there are only 29 million black and 17 million Hispanic people in the country.

e said even though the number of disabled people is large, society still has not accepted them.

Lessen said stereotypes are a major part of the lives of disabled people. He said these stereotypes are myths, but are held by many people.

"We have a sense of what we think their (the disabled's) human potential is," he said. A lot of people see the disabled as being inferior, Lessen said.

Lessen said society has a hard time accepting the disabled because it is afraid. "There is a fear of what we see," he said.

People do not like to get close to the disabled because they are unconsciously afraid that they might become disabled themselves, he said.

In order to be excepted by society a disabled person must do something extraordinary, but that is not right, Lessen said.

Disabled student Sue Haas, a quadraplegic who attended the lecture, said society will not be able look past her disability until she does something great.

Lessen said society will not be able to change until people stopped using deragatory terms and stereotypes when describing the disabled.

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