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Serving DeKalb County since 1879
Thursday, November 14, 2013
50TH ANNIVERSARY • A&E, C1
NIU 48, BALL STATE 27
News, information shows explore JFK assassination
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Da’Ron Brown
NIU holds Baker’s inauguration New chief 12th president in school’s history By DEBBIE BEHRENDS dbehrends@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Douglas Baker has wasted no time getting settled at the helm of Northern Illinois University. Stepping into the role July 1, Baker, 57, officially was inaugurated Wednesday in a 90-minute ceremony at the Holmes Student Center on the DeKalb campus. “It’s a tremendous honor to be entrusted with the responsibility to lead this institution,” Baker said. “I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to the board of trustees for selecting me.” Baker has taken what he calls the first steps toward reorganizing the
university’s infrastructure to connect 21,000 students, 4,000 staff members and 225,000 alumni. The theme for his inaugural address – and what he hopes to accomplish – is student career success. “A university focused on student career success provides students with a deep and meaningful body of knowledge to help them succeed in their careers and in life,” Baker said. Some of those first steps already taken by Baker include: • An overhaul of the budget, finance and institutional research functions • Creation of a new administrative division dealing with facilities, human resources and compliance • Creation of a new international
affairs division • Hiring of a new athletic director and moving management of the Convocation Center and Huskie Stadium to his office • Hiring a new police chief Baker called the international affairs division, headed by Ray Alden, a critical component for both the university and its students. “In that role, he already has lead a team of senior administrators to China for discussions with two new partnering institutions,” Baker said. “In December, 23 leaders from those Chinese universities will join us to further explore our partnership.” More changes, large and small,
See PRESIDENT, page A4
TOKEN BESTOWED
Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com
Douglas Baker meets with guests before his inauguration Wednesday inside Sandburg Auditorium on the Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb. Baker is the 12th president of NIU.
DeKalb firefighters give pickup truck to wounded veteran
Program posts low health care signups The ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monica Maschak – mmaschak@shawmedia.com
U.S. Army Spc. Charles Ligon receives the keys to his new pickup truck from the honorary captain of the Northern Illinois football team Albert Riippi during the game Wednesday at Huskie Stadium. Ligon was given a 2013 Chevy Silverado through the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Warrior Program. By FELIX SARVER fsarver@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Spc. Charles Ligon knew what was waiting for him behind a fire truck parked in the southeast corner of the Huskie
Stadium but it was amazing to him nonetheless. The 22-year-old West Frankfort resident was dressed in his uniform Wednesday night and standing at the north side of the stadium during a break in the
football game between the Northern Illinois University’s Huskies and Ball State University’s Cardinals. By his side was his wife Mariah, DeKalb Fire Department officials, local city officials, State Rep. Bob Pritchard and Gov. Pat
Quinn. The fire truck, which was shown on the video screen on the scoreboard, moved away and revealed behind it a 2013 Chevy
See VETERAN, page A4
WASHINGTON – Planting a paltry number on a national disappointment, the Obama administration revealed Wednesday that just 26,794 people signed up for health insurance during the first, flawed month of operations for the federal “Obamacare” website. Adding in enrollment of more than 79,000 in the 14 states with their own websites, the nationwide number of 106,000 October sign-ups was barely one-fifth of what officials had projected. The White House raced to reassure anxious Democrats who are worried about the controversial program, which seems sure to be a major issue in next year’s election campaigns. The administration, Kathleen trying to regain the Sebelius initiative, for the first time indicated a willingness to consider legislation to stave off the wave of cancellations that’s compounding the website technology problems. Some Democrats are seeking changes in Obama’s signature program, and key Republicans, many pressing for repeal, said that even Wednesday’s feeble sign-up figures appeared to be pumped up. The final number – 106,185 people – would be smaller if it counted only those who actually paid their first month’s premium, Republicans said. Administration officials and senior congressional Democrats expressed confidence in the program’s future. “We expect enrollment will grow substantially throughout the next five months,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who is in overall charge.
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