With the death of Trustee James Barushok due to a heart attack and the stepping down of Trustee Ald. Margaret Laurino due to a conflict of interest involving lobbying on the part of her husband, NEIU’s Board of Trustees [BOT] had two democratic seats open earlier this month.
Governor Blagojevich quickly filled Laurino’s seat with retired Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies [CCICS] Professor Grace Dawson, an African American.
Dawson’s initial nomination by Blagojevich was rescinded due to confusion over process and party affiliation earlier this year.
Dr Carlos Azcoitia, a Latino, nominated then rescinded prior to Dawson, was ultimately given back the seat. The Illinois Senate confirmed Dr. Carlos Azcoitia to the BOT by a 57 to 0 vote of the Illinois State Senate on April 24 according to the Illinois Senate Journal of the 95th General Assembly. Barushok’s seat is still vacant.
Laurino told the Independent that she will pay attention to the needs of the university.
Illinois Secretary of State Records show Laurino’s husband, Randy Barnette, registered with the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office on March 5, 2007 as a lobbyist working for the Cook County College Teachers Union [AKA COPE]. Prior to his job with COPE Barnette worked for the City Colleges of Chicago according to long time columnist for Nadig Newspapers Russ Stewart and Chicago City Colleges documents.
Illinois State Senate Assistant Majority Leader Iris Martinez (D-20th) told the Independent that she would be working to put a Latino in the remaining democratic open seat. “We need more than one member [of the BOT] who is Latino.”
Martinez continued, “In a school that is a [Federally recognized] Hispanic Serving institution and doing more and more outreach to where the Latino Community is, on the North Side, we need more [Latino representation on the BOT].” Martinez’s district borders the main campus to the south and has the El Centro campus in it.
Martinez said that she is concerned about this because of feedback she received both from constituents in general and at a hearing held last year by the Illinois Legislature’s Latino Caucus. “We had a hearing with students and professors and that topic came up several times we want to make sure it was right.”
Martinez said she is actively soliciting a list of Latino candidates to present to Gov. Blagojevich. “We’re not dictating the process but we’re watching the process so that it’s fair.” Martinez continued that she is compiling a list of individuals so she is not dictating one.
When asked if anyone at the university might influence who is put on the university’s board she said, “Am I influenced by anyone at the university, no.” she did clarify that she was influenced by the university community who attended hearings at NEIU.
President Sharon Hahs and Board Chair Nancy Masterson have both indicated that they have little sway over the process of choosing the board member, though Grace Dawson’s name was put forward by CCICS Director Dr. Conrad Worrill, according to both Worrill and Cindy Davismeyer, an aid to IL Senate President Emil Jones. Azcoitia told the Independent Laurino put his name forward.
Nancy Masterson told the Independent that under former Gov. Jim Edgar, universities were able to nominate candidates for their boards but that under current Gov. Blagojevich there is no such formal system.