I can't find the post, but wasn't NIU Prez Lisa Freeman supposed to make some statement today/tonight on the state of NIU and Covid-19 situation? If so, I missed it. Anyone?

Still can't find that post, but I think it's tonight. All-Access?

I saw somewhere (cant recall) that she is speaking at 7pm on Thursday (tonight). Dont know what media....

Illinois, Purdue, and Texas have said they plan to open their campus come fall. Schools have to make a decision in June to reopen or not it looks like....

They're hiring Rod Carey as athletic director. Also Illini tire will become Northwestern Medicine Wildcat Tire.

I'm kidding. But am interested in hearing what she says or said.

Open it with reasonable safety policies in place.

I think the major portion of her presentation will be devoted to explaining NIU's path to assume the operations of Chicago State and take over its campus. I'm sure that will be no surprise to a few on this board.

Is there a real possible scenario for this fall where say 70% of the universities open physically, and the remainder choose not to?

You may see single room dorms, and large lecture classes to be held online, smaller classes held in person, with social distancing.

We'll still see NIU putting a boot to Toledo, football will be played, and students will return. Positive vibes, summer should bring all numbers down. Utah opening up soon, and it has too. Over this, and pray for those affected. Go Huskies

This and everything infringing our happiness and freedom is temporary. We (The Human Race, The United States of America, NIU, and us as fans) survived the World War I, The Spanish Flu, Prohibition, the Great Depression and World War II in that order. Far worse than any of what we are seeing. This is truly awful and very real, but we will bounce back and beat anything. Plus we all have high speed internet, smart phones, and digital surround sound.

See y'all at the Huskie Stadium concessions soon. Come early or I'll buyout all the hot dogs.

Bite down. Go Huskies.

I have some details on what Prez Freeman has decided.

1. All senior officials/provosts/coaches will take a 12 percent pay cut next year with no bonuses.

2. Hiring chill/freeze.

3. Some type of retirement incentive for staff.

Here is the link to Freeman's letter to faculty and staff dated April 30 r.e. impacts of Covid-19:

https://www.niu.edu/updates/messaging/4-...ident.html

Couple quotes from the letter:

"... we know that revenue reductions and real costs are already in the range of $40 million to $50 million for FY 2020. Future projected revenue losses and delays related to state funding, enrollment, housing, dining, cancelled summer programming and events, as well as philanthropy, are anticipated to be significant."

"While NIU will soon receive approximately $14.8 million from the federal CARES Act, half will rightfully go directly to supporting student needs. The other half will be applied to COVID-related expenses, but it simply won’t put a dent into a growing situation. Further compounding matters is that we have yet to receive $31.8 million in state appropriations for our current fiscal year that ends June 30."

What a challenging time it is to be a University president. I cannot imagine the pressure that President Freeman is under and I pray for her continued success in leading NIU in this awful time.

(04-30-2020 09:59 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  What a challenging time it is to be a University president. I cannot imagine the pressure that President Freeman is under and I pray for her continued success in leading NIU in this awful time.

An impossible job. She’ll have people pissed no matter what she does.

(04-30-2020 02:14 PM)jjj Wrote:  You may see single room dorms, and large lecture classes to be held online, smaller classes held in person, with social distancing.

Actually New Hall’s Floor Plans are somewhat like Single rooms. While the Bathroom area is shared by two....the sleeping area/desk has seperate doors for each student.

Good point. Northern already has physical elements of a plan, a future, if it will recognize them. I actually feel pretty good that Northern has not committted to major athletic capital projects, because it can now right-size and adjust. And Ms. Freeman has shown she deserves our support restoring the band, as one e.g.).

For example ... Huskie Stadium. Does Northern need a stadium of 35,000 seats? Consider this: in 55 years since the west grandstand was built, and more than 300 home games, attendance has topped 27,000 just six times. The last time was in 2004.

But it has some terrific elements. Most stadiums are surrounded by blacktop parking, but HS has green lawns on both sides. Terrific tailgating atmosphere (and you can't stick a tailgate tent pole in blacktop). And there's not a bad seat in the house. What it needs is refurbishing, more rail bencback and chairback seating (think no back pain) instead of plain benches. The west side interior needs more lobby, concession and (clean) restroom space. The east side needs more ground-level wind/cold shielding. And a bigger scoreboard, to complete with the big-screen TV at home. Maybe an elevated south end zone grandstand, also providing restrooms for, and a partial rooftop over, Touchdown Village. A refurbished skybox/press box (the roof leaks). Maybe 25,000 capacity (23,595 now) ... but all for the fans.

To get that done, though, Northern needs to play that "other" game of dominos, the one where you line them up in a pattern, knock over the first one and the rest fall in line. To get C, A and B have to fall first. To get B, A has to fall first. So you start with A.

A is an Olympic Village facility, because soccer, gymnastics and wrestling have some facilities inside the west grandstand that is needed for the lobby, concession and restroom space. But not the way the "official" plan calls for it (freestanding). Instead, you build an addition on the athletic admin building east side, so teams like gymnastics and wrestling don't have to go outside to get to the Convocation Center where they compete (especially in winter). Fans aren't going to be in the OV, so only coaches and teams going through admin. Point is, if you're going to spend money, since you can't afford a do-over, do it right.

That's a rambling example of what a real plan might look like (imo), putting the elements in the correct order and using common sense. Anyone can invest in anything any time, but what works is the right investment in the right place at the right time. If you start with the OV and explain how it gets to HS, that is something people can understand and might support ... because it makes sense.

Getting old. Gray Hair. Stuck at home. Nothing to do but think and ramble. Ignore at will.

(05-01-2020 07:02 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(04-30-2020 02:14 PM)jjj Wrote:  You may see single room dorms, and large lecture classes to be held online, smaller classes held in person, with social distancing.

Actually New Hall’s Floor Plans are somewhat like Single rooms. While the Bathroom area is shared by two....the sleeping area/desk has seperate doors for each student.

Unfortunately the cost to live in new hall is now higher than tuition and fees, while meal plans, which used to be unlimited if you lived in the dorms, are being cut down to 12 meals a week.

I don't recall exactly, but I thought New Hall was built with a private company involved, and/or they are managed by a private company, which profit would affect room and board rates. Correct if wrong.

(05-01-2020 01:58 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Good point. Northern already has physical elements of a plan, a future, if it will recognize them. I actually feel pretty good that Northern has not committted to major athletic capital projects, because it can now right-size and adjust. And Ms. Freeman has shown she deserves our support restoring the band, as one e.g.).

For example ... Huskie Stadium. Does Northern need a stadium of 35,000 seats? Consider this: in 55 years since the west grandstand was built, and more than 300 home games, attendance has topped 27,000 just six times. The last time was in 2004.

But it has some terrific elements. Most stadiums are surrounded by blacktop parking, but HS has green lawns on both sides. Terrific tailgating atmosphere (and you can't stick a tailgate tent pole in blacktop). And there's not a bad seat in the house. What it needs is refurbishing, more rail bencback and chairback seating (think no back pain) instead of plain benches. The west side interior needs more lobby, concession and (clean) restroom space. The east side needs more ground-level wind/cold shielding. And a bigger scoreboard, to complete with the big-screen TV at home. Maybe an elevated south end zone grandstand, also providing restrooms for, and a partial rooftop over, Touchdown Village. A refurbished skybox/press box (the roof leaks). Maybe 25,000 capacity (23,595 now) ... but all for the fans.

To get that done, though, Northern needs to play that "other" game of dominos, the one where you line them up in a pattern, knock over the first one and the rest fall in line. To get C, A and B have to fall first. To get B, A has to fall first. So you start with A.

A is an Olympic Village facility, because soccer, gymnastics and wrestling have some facilities inside the west grandstand that is needed for the lobby, concession and restroom space. But not the way the "official" plan calls for it (freestanding). Instead, you build an addition on the athletic admin building east side, so teams like gymnastics and wrestling don't have to go outside to get to the Convocation Center where they compete (especially in winter). Fans aren't going to be in the OV, so only coaches and teams going through admin. Point is, if you're going to spend money, since you can't afford a do-over, do it right.

That's a rambling example of what a real plan might look like (imo), putting the elements in the correct order and using common sense. Anyone can invest in anything any time, but what works is the right investment in the right place at the right time. If you start with the OV and explain how it gets to HS, that is something people can understand and might support ... because it makes sense.

Getting old. Gray Hair. Stuck at home. Nothing to do but think and ramble. Ignore at will.

Well thought out and clearly explained. It kept me engaged the entire thing and (tbh) these topics often don't, so kudos for presenting this in a way that I could imagine working.

And I think you may very well be correct in that the athletic dept's lack of movement on projects (probably 100% to do with funds) might actually help them (or be somewhat of a benefit) because they won't be stuck in the middle of a project. And I absolutely think downsizing and enhancing husky stadium is the correct path as I think you'll see more and more smaller venues built for both college and professional sports going forward (and I believe this was the path before the coronavirus shutdown).

(04-30-2020 03:58 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  This and everything infringing our happiness and freedom is temporary. We (The Human Race, The United States of America, NIU, and us as fans) survived the World War I, The Spanish Flu, Prohibition, the Great Depression and World War II in that order. Far worse than any of what we are seeing. This is truly awful and very real, but we will bounce back and beat anything. Plus we all have high speed internet, smart phones, and digital surround sound.

See y'all at the Huskie Stadium concessions soon. Come early or I'll buyout all the hot dogs.

Bite down. Go Huskies.

Im not so sure Hawaii on temporary, this is more than a virus now, its a movement. I think it has some staying power