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Express Yourself: A Northern Star project
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
NIU’s Observatory’s telescope sits pointed at the moon. The Observatory owns a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope which is over 25 years old. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
Lifestyle
In Pictures: NIU’s Observatory opening to the public
What kind of grades did NIU students receive in the last academic school year?
A group of adults play pickleball during the "In the Kitchen" community event which took place Tuesday. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst believes more emphasis should be placed on people living a healthy lifestyle in order to avoid contracting conditions such as cancer or heart disease versus treating these conditions once they occur. (Jesus Aranguren | AP Photo)
Society should advocate more for healthier lifestyles

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Jan.15

Wednesday

  • Winter Wonderland:Reindeer, ice skating, and hot cocoa? Oh my! 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the MLK Commons
 

Feb.1

Saturday

  • Deadline: Last day to apply for Spring 2025 graduation via self-service in MyNIU.
 

Feb.19

Wednesday

  • Spring 2025 All-Majors Internship and Job Fair: An opportunity for students, alumni and community members to connect with employers for internships, and full-time, part-time and student employment positions. Our All-Majors Internship and Job Fair is open to undergraduates, graduating seniors, graduate students, alumni and non-NIU candidates. Our fair is free for all candidates to attend. Reservations are not required. Parking is also free or you may take the 2R or 2L bus line.
 
NIU President Lisa Freeman (left), NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics Sean Frazier and NIU head football coach Thomas Hammock pose for a photo after a press conference held in the McCareins Auditorium inside the Yordon Center in DeKalb. NIU’s membership agreement with the Mountain West Conference, which the school will join as a football-only affiliate in 2026, was obtained by the Northern Star on Thursday. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)
Football
Looking inside NIU’s membership agreement with Mountain West

DeKALB — The Northern Star has obtained a copy of NIU’s membership agreement with the Mountain West Conference through a Freedom...

New year, new collection of games
Ghastly tours and campfire events
Hundreds of emails compromised during fall ‘24 finals week
MILLER: Top Chicago Bears coaching candidates this offseason
Cartoon: A snowy start to the semester
NIU police chief announces retirement after 25 years of service
Women’s basketball suffers fourth straight loss to Miami
CAB’s Winter Wonderland returns with reindeer
Poll: Which residence hall is the best to live in?
See all »
 
See all »
 

Flip through our latest special edition

NIU sophomore guard Quentin Jones (1) drives past Miami Universirty sophomore guard Evan Ipsaro (2) during the Huskies’ 84-69 loss to the RedHawks on Tuesday night inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Jones led the game with 21 points, crossing the 20-point threshold for the sixth time this season. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
Sports
Injury-riddled Huskies fall at home to MAC-leading RedHawks
By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter

DeKALB – NIU men’s basketball remains winless in Mid-American Conference play after suffering its fourth-consecutive loss Tuesday night against...

Redshirt sophomore Tommy Curran attempts to break loose from Purdue redshirt sophomore Isaac Ruble on the mat. Curran scored only three points in the 149-pound match, losing by major decision, 14-3. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)
Sports
Gallery: Wrestling clashes against ranked Purdue
NIU then-junior left fielder CJ Cepicky (39) listens to the third base coach talk game strategy before the top of the eighth inning starts against the University of Illinois Chicago on April 24. NIU baseball released its 2025 season schedule on Dec 18. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Sports
Baseball unveils 2025 schedule
Then-University of Charleston head coach Quinn Sanders looks on from the sideline during a Mountain East Conference game between Charleston and West Virginia State University on Nov. 16 at UC Stadium at Laidley Field in Charleston, West Virginia. NIU announced the hire of Sanders as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tuesday. (Courtesy of University of Charleston Athletics)
Sports
NIU football hires Quinn Sanders as new offensive coordinator
A graphic shows NIU student-athletes from various sports with arrows indicating highs and lows. Sports Editor Edison Miller shared the best and worst moments for Huskie sports over winter break. (Edison Miller | Northern Star)
Sports
MILLER: Highs and lows for Huskie sports over winter break

See all Sports coverage »

▸ More Coverage:  Football  |  Volleyball  |  Men's Soccer  |  Women's Soccer

 
An image shows a college graduate holding a piggy bank. On Friday, NIU students received an email notification that MAP grant amounts would be reduced by 8%. (skodonnell via Getty Images)
News
MAP grant disbursement decreases for Spring 2025
By Devin Oommen, News Editor

DeKALB – MAP grant amounts will be reduced by 8%, up to $336 per student for the spring 2025 semester. NIU’s Financial Aid and Scholarship...

An image shows the state of a collapsed 1024 W. Hillcrest Dr. apartment building. The building caught fire on Dec. 22 and is set to be demolished. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
News
Christmas week fire forces NIU students and residents to relocate
A graphic shows the Illinois state seal, an image depicting a member of a gym, a mobile drivers license and a payscale. Nearly 300 new laws went into effect at the start of 2025. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
News
New laws taking effect in Illinois and what students think of them
The DeKalb city council takes a photo at its Jan. 13 meeting with residents of buildings affected in the Dec. 22 Hillcrest apartment fire and community members who were involved in the aid process. (Joseph Ndu | Northern Star)
News
DeKalb residents voice fears of second Trump administration
An NIU Police car sits parked on Feb. 26 in front of Barsema Hall. Crimes such as battery and theft under $500 were reported in December 2024 on NIU’s campus. (Northern Star File Photo)
News
NIU Crime Log, December 2024

See all News coverage »

▸ More Coverage:  Campus  |  City

 

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Fireworks and a party hat sit beneath the words “Look Both Ways” and above the topic of the week. Are creating New Year's resolutions pointless or not pointless? (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)
Opinion
Look Both Ways: New Year’s resolutions
By Emily Beebe and Jackson Shields

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS AREN’T POINTLESS By: Jackson Shields, Assistant Opinion Editor Like clockwork, with the beginning of a new year...

Christina Fiedler, a junior rehabilitation and disability services major, responds to a street interviews prompt. What are you most looking forward to this semester? (Northern Star Graphic)
Opinion
Street Interviews: What are you most looking forward to this semester?
Christmas lights, a ladder and a table with sparkling apple cider and a cup are shown on top of Opinion Columnist Lucy Atkinson’s roof in Anchorage, Alaska. As part of her New Year’s Resolutions, Opinion Columnist Lucy Atkinson wants to work on her anxiety regarding unexpectedly losing loved ones. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)
Opinion
Taming anxiety during the new year
The Haribo Commons is located in Barsema Hall. Even though business majors spend most of their time in Barsema Hall, anyone can study there. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)
Opinion
Best study spots at NIU
Kristy Schomaker, a digital services commercialization leader at Trane Commercial, sits at a table and speaks during the AI and Machine Learning panel discussion as part of the Engineering Showcase on Nov. 15 in the Engineering Building. Opinion Columnist Lalita Rai believes that women entering the STEM field should advocate for themselves and not feel outside pressure from men. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Opinion
Women entering the STEM field need to advocate for themselves

See all Opinion coverage »

▸ More Coverage:  Columinists  |  Editorials  |  Letters to the Editor

 
A person writes down their many New Year’s resolutions on a chalkboard. New Year resolutions are hard to maintain, so here are some tips to help you keep up with them. (Getty Images)
Lifestyle
Tips to maintain your New Years resolutions
By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor

New Year’s resolutions are a long lasting tradition where people set goals to better themselves for the upcoming year. Unfortunately, it is...

A graphic depicts the words "No to Plastic," a turtle covered in plastic, the Earth inside a plastic bag and a seal stuck inside plastic. Opinion Columnist Lalita Rai believes more should be done to reduce the amount of plastic pollution on Earth. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)
Opinion
Society needs to do more to reduce effects of plastic pollution
The main character, Ellen, screams in horror after Count Orlock appears suddenly and strangles her. "Nosferatu" (2024) retells the story of the classic "Nosferatu" (1922) and plays off of the story of Dracula. (Universal Pictures All -Access under Fair Use)
Lifestyle
‘Nosferatu,’ a must-see retelling of the original
The Thing stares at the sky next to a damaged bus. Marvel Rivals transitioned into Season 1 and released two new characters with two more on the way. (Marvel Games under Fair Use)
Lifestyle
‘Marvel Rivals’ Season 1 introduces Fantastic Four
A student sits in front of their desk preparing to start their work. These are a few tips students can use to prepare for the next semester. (GettyImages under Fair Use)
Lifestyle
Tackling the spring semester

See all Lifestyle coverage »

▸ More Coverage:   DeKalb Scene | Entertainment | Ask Madelaine Advice Column | Horoscopes | Puzzles