[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 48 (Thursday, March 12, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 125th 
anniversary of the founding of Northern Illinois University, or NIU, a 
renowned institution with a long record as a public research university 
and the proud home of Huskies.
  Like many great State universities across this country, Northern 
Illinois University began as an expansion of the normal school program, 
otherwise commonly known as a teachers college. Near the end of the 
19th century, as our Nation's population continued to experience rapid 
growth, the State of Illinois recognized the need to prioritize teacher 
training in Northern Illinois to increase access to education in the 
bourgeoning community. NIU was founded in DeKalb, IL, in 1895 to help 
more students receive a high-quality education, and it still serves 
those same goals today.
  NIU is a university of diversity. From its very first day, NIU has 
charted a course of inclusion and accessibility that focused on the 
students and their education. NIU has proven its commitment in this 
area by expanding opportunities and pathways to college for students 
from underserved communities and to those that are the first in their 
family to attend college. Over the years, NIU has been at the forefront 
of recognizing the unique challenges of these communities and has 
worked tirelessly to identify ways to address them as part of its 
strong commitment to students.
  NIU is a university of opportunity. Today, nearly three quarters of 
NIU students fall into one or more of the following categories: about 
45 percent of the students are Pell grant-eligible, 50 percent are 
students of color, and 50 percent are first-generation college 
students. I would like to commend NIU for its work to make higher 
education more accessible for families from all communities and walks 
of life.
  NIU is a university of excellence. NIU has a nationally recognized 
faculty that includes prominent experts and leading scholars from a 
variety of disciplines, including science, East Asian studies, and 
visual and performance arts. After receiving a first-class education at 
NIU, over 200,000 alumni have gone on to make a difference in the 
Midwest and across the world, teaching people about the value of NIU as 
they do.
  The State of Illinois has been enriched by NIU, and I look forward to 
the school's many contributions in the years ahead. It is my distinct 
honor to congratulate President Lisa Freeman and the entire NIU 
community on its 125th anniversary.

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