Nepotism: "bestowal of official favors on one’s relatives" (Black’s Law Dictionary, 8th Edition). Nepotism is normally frowned upon within a public body and most public officials who truly care about protecting the taxpayers have anti-nepotism policies. NIU's policy is as follows: "Faculty and administrative employees are selected...
DeKalb, IL. (ECWd) - Mayor Rey ran for office promising Open and Transparent government. He won his election in 2014. One requirement of the Office of the Mayor is to give a State of the City address annually. (65 ILCS 5/3.1-35-5) (from Ch. 24, par. 3.1-35-5) Sec....
DeKalb, IL. (ECWd) - Previously we focused on violations of state rules and the questionable “ethically inspired leadership” by Northern Illinois University’s President Doug Baker and his administration. But perhaps we jumped the gun in placing all the blame on Baker for these violations. Was Baker only...
DeKalb Co. (ECWd) - We previously printed a story regarding Northern Illinois University’s Interim CFO Nancy Suttenfield’s alleged attempt to save the Illinois taxpayers’ monies by refusing to accept a final written report generated by an illegitimate consulting/assessment contract—but only after she had already spent $468,050...
DeKalb Co. (ECWd) - We have already shown that President Doug Baker and Northern Illinois University have experimented with many variations of questionable actions regarding procurement and contracts, especially for friends of President Baker. But there are still new riffs on an old song. We recently...
DeKalb, IL. (ECWd) - *11-9-2015, 10:47 A.M. - Correction to state the actual compensation to board members. This change does not affect the dollar amount of waste in any way, and clearly shows the intent of the legislature to only compensate dollar amount listed in the...
DeKalb, IL. (ECWd) - In the first installment of College Town Partners, we introduced you to Tim Struthers (NIU Board Nominee), John Rey (Mayor of DeKalb), Bill Nicklas (Retired NIU VP), Douglas D. Baker and all public and private players that were visible. Now we will introduce...
DeKalb, IL. (ECWd) - This will be another multi-part story, and we believe we should point out all the players first so you can get a feel for who is playing what part. Bear with us while we set this up to where everyone can grasp what...
DeKalb, IL. (ECWd) - Edited for clarity and to correct ownership of real estate...
DeKalb Co. (ECWd) - With all the recent attention brought to light with the College of DuPage and their now banned-from-campus President and his love for alcohol, you would think others would get the message. Not the case for Northern Illinois University President and board members who...
