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Northern Illinois College Students Rally For End To Budget Gridlock

Hundreds of students representing Northern Illinois University and several other Chicago-area schools gathered Thursday night to call for Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and lawmakers to agree on a budget.

The students and community leaders spoke out against cuts to MAP grants, social services, and the halt in construction of the Stevens Building, which housed NIU's School of Theater and Dance.

Rauner served as the  keynote speaker at Thursday night's DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation annual fundraiser.

Credit Jenna Dooley / WNIJ
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WNIJ
Construction halted at NIU's Stevens Building

DeKalb is one of the best places in the country to build a business, thanks to its location and a strong work force. That’s what Governor Bruce Rauner told a crowd of area business leaders last night at Northern Illinois University. But the Governor says it could be better, and blames Democratic leaders for not passing his “turn-around agenda.”  

At the rally, senior Richie Vavrina, of Bolingbrook,  spoke to students. He is both a MAP grant recipient and a Theater, Design, and Technology major.

Construction was halted on renovations to the Stevens Building due to the impasse this summer.

"We waste a lot of time transporting students from campus to our shop two miles away. We have lost our identity as a School because we have only seen each outside of class at performances and budget rallies."

NIU mainstage performances are currently being held at a nearby middle school.

Mark Pietrowski is the DeKalb County Board Chairman.

"We need the governor to focus on passing a responsible budget now. Instead of speaking at fundraisers, we need the governor to spend five minutes speaking to the student leaders, but were told he didn't have the time."

Republican Representative Bob Pritchard also spoke to students about the need to end the gridlock.

"This crisis has been brewing for over 20 years as budgets have been cut, over-promises have been made, and we have been failing to set priorities in how we spend money."

Mary Ellen Schaid is the Executive Director of Safe Passage, a domestic violence shelter in DeKalb County.

"If victims of abuse are forced to choose between homelessness and their safety and a roof over their head with their abusers then we have truly set aside basic humanity."

Among the schools attending the rally were Governors State, Chicago State, Elmhurst College, College of DuPage, Kishwaukee College, and Concordia University Chicago.

Susan is an award-winning reporter/writer at her favorite radio station. She's also WNIJ's Perspectives editor, Under Rocks contributor, and local host of All Things Considered.
Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" from the Illinois Associated Press and recipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.