NIU Today

The NIU Department of Police and Public Safety (NIU PD) has published the 2017 NIU Emergency Response Guide. The guide — designed for students, faculty, staff and visitors — provides basic information and recommended responses to a wide array of potential emergencies. “It’s general enough that anyone who picks it up can quickly implement a...

In an emergency, seconds count. That’s why it’s important that NIU’s Department of Police and Public Safety is close. The National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Foundation recently recognized NIU’s police department with the EMS Ready Campus distinction for “embracing the challenges of EMS operations outside of traditional patient care activities.” “We are the only...

Joe Lovelace wondered what it was like to be a police officer. Now he knows. Lovelace, director of Students’ Legal Assistance at NIU, was one of more than a dozen members selected to be part of the Citizens Police Academy pilot program, which kicked off Jan. 27 at the NIU Police Department. “The program is...

John Ithal, who brings more than two decades of experience in law enforcement with the North Aurora Police Department, has been named NIU’s director of Clery Compliance. Ithal, who holds a bachelor’s degree from Aurora University and a master’s degree from Lewis University, is the first to hold the newly created position. He reports to NIU...

In an effort to protect and serve the Huskie community, members of the NIU Police Department are taking part in a groundbreaking education program that will help them identify and respond to citizens who are experiencing mental health crises or showing signs of substance abuse. “It is important for all of our first responders to...

NIU’s Presidential Commission on the Status of Women will host a conference Friday, March 4, on “Creating a Safer Campus – Policies, Training, and Standards.” The conference, scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Chandelier Room of Adams Hall, will focus on NIU’s response to the Violence Against Women Act. Because the responsibility...

I get excited every year during Homecoming week about the great opportunities to highlight Northern Illinois University and our fantastic social activities that lead up to Huskie football’s annual Homecoming game on Saturday. Homecoming is probably the quintessential campus event that draws so many NIU alumni, students, faculty, staff, family and friends to our community....

Northern Illinois University has released its 2015-16 Annual Campus Safety and Security Report. The report includes information regarding campus security procedures, personal and fire safety data, crime prevention, emergency response procedures and crime data for the last three years. Every post-secondary institution in the country is required to file the report annually by Oct. 1...

More than 100 law enforcement and fire personnel representing Northern Illinois University, local, state and federal agencies participated in a Friday morning drill which simulated multiple improvised explosive devices going off in the NIU Convocation Center. Police, fire and emergency medical first responders and investigators—as well as NIU senior administrators—participated in the training simulation that...

As Veterans Day approaches, Northern Illinois University alumna and Illinois State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit is reflecting on fellow veterans who sacrificed their lives for freedom and on her service in the Marine Corps. After graduating high school, Kifowit joined the Marines on an impulse and didn’t tell her family until after she had signed up....

The NIU Department of Political Science is launching two new mentoring efforts. One reaches out to students before they ever arrive on campus; the other features prominent alumni among its mentors, including a congresswoman. The new “Diplomat Program” is perhaps the most unique to campus. Beginning this week, many of the department’s majors will begin...

Greetings from Chicago! This morning I was in the city giving a radio interview to Craig Dellimore for his Sunday public affairs program, “At Issue,” on WBBM-AM 780. On Thursday, I appeared live on WGN-AM 720 as part of Steve Cochran’s mini-series about higher education. Among the many topics I discussed with both was the...