In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the damage to the Gulf of Mexico, energy prices are estimated to increase about 70 percent this winter.

NIU Housing and Dining budgeted $6.5 million to all utility costs, including heating plant costs, within the residence halls for the fiscal year, said Brien Martin, associate director of business affairs for student life.

If a 70 percent increase does occur, an additional $4.55 million would be needed for utilities.

Since it would have been impossible to predict Hurricane Katrina when the budget was prepared in November and December of last year, this increase was not taken into consideration.

Students don’t need to worry how Housing and Dining will make up for any losses. It is not the policy of Housing and Dining, or the university, to increase room and board rates to make up for unanticipated costs from the previous year, Martin said.

"Housing and Dining will do everything they can to adjust its overall budget during the current year to help pay for any increases in which they did not budget," Martin said. "Housing and Dining makes do with less in some areas, but they are committed to maintaining present levels of service wherever practical."

The increase in energy costs does not apply to only residence halls. Students living off campus also may see an increase in their bills this winter.

Some students are unaware such an increase was predicted.

"I guess I really hadn’t thought about ways to conserve energy, but I didn’t expect such a high increase either," junior English major Dan Hahn said.

Some students already are practicing ways to save on energy costs.

"Within my house, I have all the computers set to automatically shut down for the night. It actually saves a lot," said Kevin Levy, a freshman communication studies major.

There are ways for students to reduce energy usage.

"Turn lights, computers, stereos and other electronics off when not in use. Leave temperature settings at an ‘even’ level and adjust clothing worn if a room is too warm or too cold," Martin said. "Also, keep windows closed so that the effort of heating your living space isn’t simply flowing outside the building."

Students in the residence halls have ways to help cut back costs as well.

"I live in the residence halls so heat doesn’t really affect me, but as far as electric goes, I’m going to turn off lights, televisions and other things when I’m not in my room," junior history major Anthony Elling said.

The River of Life Christian Church will hold a conference for prayer and worship this weekend at the Holmes Student Center.

"Blow the Trumpet in Zion" is a gathering for people interested in praying and listening to speakers talk about faith and healing, conference organizer Mark Wainwright said.

The event will feature prophetic ministry teams offering personal prophecies to those interested.

Prophetic worship involves experiencing church while opening oneself up to God, Wainwright said.

"In the Bible, God had spoken of a time when he would re-establish the Tabernacle of David," he said. "In this conference, we would be coming together in response to what God had spoken and is planning on doing."

Among the speakers is a representative of the Mount Carmel church in northern Israel, located where the prophet Elijah called down fire from the heavens in the Bible, Wainwright said.

A youth rally will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. today at the Holmes Student Center’s Diversions Lounge. The conference will go Friday through Sunday at the student center’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

Friday’s conference begins at 7 p.m., while weekend conferences begin at 8:30 a.m. Admission is $15 for those 18 and older; $10 for those ages 13 to 17; and $5 for those 12 and under.