Title IX and AlcoholEdu training is required for NIU students to take at the start of their first semester at NIU, and rightfully so; students need to take the training seriously.Illinois requires all students in their first year at college to participate...
DeKALB — A Sycamore business has relocated to downtown DeKalb after transitioning from a brew pub to a microbrewery.Forge Brew House, 216 N. 6 St., had a soft opening March 17 and grand opening March 24. The Sycamore location, previously on Airport...
DEKALB - The current topic of conversation among DeKalb City Council members encompasses the measures being taken to pilot the city manager search and recruitment process.During the June 18 Special Committee of the Whole meeting, City Council members...
Point/Counterpoint: Age to buy tobacco products Keep the age at 18Lucas SkyeThe Illinois State Senate’s proposal to raise the purchasing age for tobacco products to 21 is a prime example of our government overstepping its boundaries. It is a no-brainer...
See what’s a pass and what’s a fail as judged by PerspectiveEditor Lucas Skye.PassIllinois receives vital grant to aid in the fight against opiod crisisThe Illinois Department of Human Services is receiving a generous grant of $16 million in federal...
See what’s a pass and what’s a fail as judged by PerspectiveEditor Lucas Skye.PassThe Illinois Department of Human Services is receiving a generous grant of $16 million in federal funding to support its fight against the ongoing opioid crisis.With...
DeKALB — City officials are offering residents the opportunity to share their concerns about parking restrictions under the Safe Streets Initiative.The four-phase plan was introduced in November by DeKalb Police Chief Gene Lowery to improve fire responders...
Elected officials should use their right of free speech when candidates who are attempting to unseat the representatives employ bigotry, hate and fear to win a race.
Republican Rep. Jeanne Ives has a bigoted political advertisement sarcastically “thanking” Gov. Bruce Rauner for his support of birth control, unions, sanctuary cities and for allowing grown men in dresses to use girls’ bathrooms, according to the BenedictRauner.com ad.
Ives mocked the transgender community and inflamed the bathroom debate by mischaracterizing Rauner’s support of House Bill 1785. The ad depicts a man wearing a dress thanking Rauner because he can now use the women’s bathroom. This representation is inflammatory as Ives is insinuating the transgender community is illegitimate and bills that grant them equal rights are just tools for illegitimate members of the trans community to be sexual predators.
House Bill 1785 actually amends the Vital Records Act. The bill requires those who have undergone “gender transition treatment” to have a licensed health care or mental health care professional make a declaration about the individual’s transition before issuing an updated birth certificate with their new gender and name, according to the bill.
When Ives’ decision to run the commercial and its intent were questioned, her spokesperson doubled down and said “she is not pulling the ad because she is not intimidated by Gov. Rauner and what she called his paid party mouthpieces,” according to a Feb. 3 WGN article.
What’s most interesting about Ives’ political ad is Rauner never publicly denounced her bigoted ad; he remained silent on the topic altogether.
While Ives is in her own right to say and think what she wants about the transgender community, her ad is not a true reflection of the bill passed by Rauner.
Elected officials especially Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner ,should be representing all communities, and Ives’ misleading attack against Rauner was also an attack against the very communities Illinois elected officials are supposed to represent.
The only way to combat an individual’s right to spew hate and bigotry is by using the same right to counter their words.
People in power have an obligation as elected officials to use their voice to represent people. By staying silent, they aren’t doing their job.
NIU should open up library hours to give students who aren’t business majors an open space to study. The only college at NIU that has a place to study 24/7 is the College of Business’ Barsema Hall.The College of Business is nationally recognized and...
Illinois’ push to amend Bill SB2332 and raise the age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 is an effective way to prevent minors and young adults from smoking. On Jan. 30, The Public Health Committee of the Illinois State Senate voted six to two...
Acting President Lisa Freeman speaks during a Board of Trustee meeting Thursday. The Finance, Facilities and Operations Committee voted to freeze student tuition.
