Board of Trustees member Cherilyn Murer expressed the board’s desire to continue forward with the proton center at the BOT meeting Wednesday morning, responding to the recent legal issues brought against NIU regarding the project.

“We express our commitment to this proton facility,” Murer said.

NIU began construction in June on a proton therapy cancer treatment center in West Chicago. Procure Treatment Centers, Inc., a cancer treatment corporation out of Bloomington, Ind., appears to be preparing to sue NIU.

ProCure’s petition claims that NIU, through abuse and manipulation of processes in Illinois, hopes to achieve a monopoly on proton therapy in the state, the Northern Star reported.

There are five proton centers in the U.S., all of which are separated by lots of miles, Murer said. The Indiana company planned to build six miles from where NIU has begun to build.

“I think the facts speak for themselves,” Murer said.

The board also approved other measures, including contracting a private security firm for residence halls.

President John Peters said the firm has the resources to bring in extra staff if needed, and they are “very good on Clery Act reporting.”

The board requested $950,000 for St. Moritz Security Services Inc., out of Pittsburgh, Pa. Peters said NIU already set aside this money in the budget.

“It’s part of the security budget,” he said. “We usually spend about one million a year on outside security.”

The board also approved transportation services’ request for 13 hybrid vehicles for university transportation purposes. The cars will be purchased from Jordan Motors in Mishwaka, Ind. for $277,328.

Peters said these funds accumulated over time from transportation services.

An amendment was also made to transportation services’ fuel contract for the 2008 fiscal year.

Because the university traveled 200,000 miles over plan for FY08, the board had to approve $15,000 to cover the miles.

“Travel was up across the board in all areas,” said Transportation Manager Bill Finucane. “I was surprised when I did the research that it was up that much.”

The next Board of Trustees meeting will be Sept. 18.

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