Put away your backpacks and pencils, Huskies, and pull out your thoughts on the most iconic place at NIU. Everyone has their favorite spot to grab a snack or study, but some places at NIU trump the rest.
Some icons, like William the Goose and Olive Goyle, have retained fame for over 25 years. Today is not the debate for the most well-known icon, but the most iconic place on campus. With a line-up including a lagoon, student center, administrative building and library, the Northern Star’s first poll of the year seeks to answer: What is the most iconic spot on campus?
EAST LAGOON
Home to fountains, kayakers and goose droppings, the East Lagoon, located near Lowden Hall and the Jack Arends Art Building, is a place to relax or exercise. From setting up a hammock between the trees to taking a stroll around the water, students are able to take beautiful sunset pictures or get rejuvenated through yoga.
The Adventure Center equips students with paddleboards, canoes and kayaks to rent through hourly time slots. The Adventure Center is also home to Outdoor Adventures, which organizes hikes and other outdoor activities for students to participate in.
Through the fall, students can experience the leaves changing color, and in spring, the water is home to many geese and their newborns. While you do need to watch out for the mother geese, this lagoon is definitely worth taking a trip around.
MLK COMMONS/HOLMES STUDENT CENTER
From the NIU letter statue to the Starbucks, the MLK Commons and Holmes Student Center are common spots for photos and necessary caffeine, respectively. Every Huskie knows the feeling of walking across the Commons on a sunny day or through the student center on rainy and cold days.
Named after a previous NIU president, Leslie Holmes, the Holmes Student Center was erected in the 1960s and has stood tall for over 50 years. While staying at Hotel at Holmes, families of students can have an on-campus experience without being in the residence halls or needing to find an off-campus hotel. After it received a Starbucks, QDOBA, the Grill at Huskie Den, a bowling alley and billiards, the Student Center became an always active place for locking in and letting loose.
Located just outside of the Student Center, the MLK Commons is where many events are held and people gather, including Food Truck Wednesdays or Pro-Palestine protests last spring. The MLK Commons supports many student-driven and NIU-driven activities and is home to studying students at the tables outside on sunny days.
ALTGELD HALL
Housing NIU’s top administrators, Altgeld Hall signifies prestige on campus. While holding banquets and talks, including Lincoln Lectures, this building incorporates students and staff. Other Illinois universities, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Southern Illinois University, have an Altgeld Hall, though for varying purposes.
Affectionately called ‘The Castle,’ Altgeld is a building people remember. Students, faculty, staff and visitors see the tall structure — with intricate designs and a grand staircase leading to the second floor — and remember it for its beauty.
FOUNDERS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
For most students, the Einstein’s Bros. Bagels in the basement is a main highlight for Founders Memorial Library, but there is more to it than bagels and coffee. The Rare Books and Special Collections Reading Room, in Room 403, houses collections and artifacts from various periods in history.
Infamous for its quiet spaces for late semester cramming sessions, students can use any of the three levels for reserving a study room, using tables to study at, browse books – both academic and not – or taking a moment for themselves. The versatility of Founders Memorial Library allows it to house and accommodate all student types.
OTHER
Each department, college and social club has their own iconic spots. From the abandoned broadcasting center to certain classrooms or residence halls, everyone has their own spot they feel deserves recognition.
Some of what may be NIU’s most iconic features have yet to be fully discovered. The nuclear bunkers beneath Davis Hall and Swen Parson Hall, developed during the Cold War, may have more to them than previously recognized.
The observatory on top of Davis Hall has been dubbed “the best cheap date on campus” and has served students well for many years. After reopening in 2023, students can gaze at their stars – or their date – once again.
Results of the last poll: Which type of finals do students prefer?
Final Exam — 15%
Paper/Essay — 30%
Presentation — 0%
Project — 15%
NO FINAL! — 41%
