Jerry Thompson’s name isn’t exactly popular in all quarters of NIU. After all, an adviser who taught young reporters to pursue the truth relentlessly made administrators pretty uncomfortable at times.

To anyone who worked at the Northern Star during Jerry’s 25-year tenure, though, he represented everything good about journalism: tenacity, integrity and undying support of the First Amendment. Those attitudes represent the heart and soul of the Northern Star. As they grew, sometimes the stakes were high.

Jerry received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After several years as a reporter, he continued his education at NIU, where he earned a master’s degree in political science and journalism.

He was named the Star’s adviser in 1971, after the death of Roy Campbell. Little did anyone know then that Jerry’s career would span three decades and challenge authority at many points along the way. Jerry often put his job on the line for his beliefs in the First Amendment and the right of students to publish freely. He even helped students expose and unseat two university presidents. NIU President Clyde Wingfield, unhappy with the Star’s coverage of his lavish expenses, tried to silence Jerry in 1986 by removing him from his adviser’s role and assigning him to a position in public affairs. Jerry sued the university, using the one tool journalists count on for his defense: the First Amendment. In the end, he got his job back … and Wingfield lost his.

Jerry spent countless hours walking around campus and drinking coffee at McDonald’s to find a good lead. Jerry said his best memories of the Star are “any time good reporters became involved in uncovering hard-to-get news.”

Not long after Jerry retired in 1995, he took a part-time job — every journalist’s dream — at a bait and tackle shop. He also became involved in politics. This year, he is working as a media consultant for Citizens for a Sound Economy.

“I’d rather do that than count worms,” he said.

Jerry and his wife, Winnie, live in Malta. His daughter, Emily, is married and lives in Portage, Ind., with her husband and son. Jerry’s son, Eric, is married and lives in Rantoul, Ill.