Students finally had an opportunity Thursday to voice their opinions in the fair share debate between Northwestern and the city of Evanston.
In an Associated Student Government referendum, 62 percent, or 1,507 students, said they wanted the university and city to work together toward “joint-cooperative ventures.” Only 5 percent of students want NU to give an annual financial contribution to Evanston, while 32 percent rejected any kind of contribution.
College Democrats Sen. Fred Noyes, who proposed the referendum, said he was satisfied with the results.
“I think the cooperative venture choice was the best one because it’s the area where there is the greatest potential for compromise,” said Noyes, a Weinberg junior. “I’m not sure it will change what the city has been demanding from the university, but it could be one of many factors that might convince the city council to pursue different options.”
For years, Evanston has asked NU to contribute its “fair share” through an annual lump sum, saying the university receives city services without paying for them through property taxes or other means.
But NU has argued that its 1851 state charter prevents it from having to pay the taxes that the city demands.
Because the debate has occurred between administrators and city officials, ASG members said the students have not been heard.
Noyes said turnout for the referendum, in which about 2,300 students voted, gives legitimacy to the results. The referendum was included on the online ballot for ASG runoff elections.
“We had an excellent turnout, and it was large enough to give an indication of what NU students feel,” Noyes said. “No one can say this is too small of a sample and that it doesn’t represent student opinion.”
ASG President-elect Jordan Heinz said he hopes the referendum will be a “fantastic step in having students get more involved with the city.”
“Students haven’t had a say in anything the council has done,” said Heinz, an Education junior. “This could be a great starting point in showing that students do have a vested interest in decisions that are made.”
Jerry Rosemond, a member of Evanston’s Fair Share Action Committee, said he agreed that the student vote for compromise is a positive sign for relations with the city.
“As opposed to negotiations with the city and NU being stuck, I’d rather see the city grow along with the university’s needs,” Rosemond said. “The referendum was a good idea because we need to do whatever will work.”
Noyes said he wants to present the results of the referendum to Evanston’s City Council, having received an invitation from Ald. Joe Kent (5th) to do so.
“I prefer to take the referendum directly to the council and tell them to consider how students feel about the fair share issue,” Noyes said. “I don’t feel it is realistic for Evanston to think they are going to get the fair share contribution without the consent of the students, and the referendum enforces that.”
Heinz also said referenda are worthless unless action is taken along with them.
“Referenda are a great way of gathering majority opinion but they are meaningless unless someone does something along with it,” he said. “Referenda need to create change, but I’m not sure that our relationship with the city is substantial enough yet for them to take us seriously.”
