With President John Peters expected to make a decision on Cole Hall’s future by May 1, the current status of Memorial Hall has also been in question.

A bill concerning Memorial Hall has not been introduced to the Illinois Legislature, said Melanie Magara, assistant vice president of Public Affairs.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich proposed a $40 million appropriation to build Memorial Hall in March. Magara said the legislature is looking to NIU to say what is needed. She added that communications would be between NIU and the governor’s office when a decision is made.

“There is a real classroom space issue for next fall, so something needs to happen,” Magara said.

She said NIU would have to introduce something to the legislature shortly after the May 1 deadline concerning funding for a new classroom building, if the university feels one is necessary.

NIU is still in the process of gathering opinions from alumni and students on the future of Cole Hall.

“We’re using every means we can to survey the campus, community and the larger NIU family,” Magara said.

She said NIU will report the findings from the forums and from submitted opinions later this month, adding that nothing will be decided until Peters gets a full understanding of what everyone thinks.

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