When Dr. Lois Self became chair of NIU’s Department of Communication in 1996, she was clear about one thing: “Journalism at Northern was not going to die on my watch.”

Faculty had just endured a contentious merger. The former journalism department had been absorbed into communication. The move was intended as a cost-cutter, and it did accomplish that. But upper administrators may not have considered a heavy price: Students and alumni (and the Northern Star) were furious at what they feared would spell the eventual loss of NIU journalism.

Roger Ruthhart, managing editor of the Rock Island Argus, remembers the atmosphere of suspicion and fear. Leaders of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association wondered if their longtime connection with NIU would end. Ruthhart and other NINA board members met with Lois in 1996.

“She listened, asked questions, promised that things would be better and then tirelessly worked to make sure they were,” he said.

The NINA contingent also asked if she would serve as NINA’s executive secretary. She agreed – and served for the next decade until her retirement from NIU in 2006.

That agreement was 11 years ago, when NIU’s number of journalism majors had dipped to 150 – down from a high close to 700 in the department’s 1970s and ’80s heydays. Today, that number has rebounded to about 300, consistently. There’s no more talk of journalism disappearing from NIU.

“We watched as she quickly learned about the newspaper business and became a friend to journalism,” said Star Hall of Famer Lonny Cain, managing editor of The Times in Ottawa, Ill. “Most important, she shared the enthusiasm for ‘the story’ that sparks the engines of every newsroom. She has done a great deal to preserve and protect the passion for newsgathering that must be part of any journalism program. I count her as one of my peers and would not hesitate to seek her advice on any aspect of the newspaper business. And I am proud to be her friend.”

Lois also grew to appreciate the Northern Star, even after she had been the subject of critical editorials at times during her academic career.

“The whole First Amendment thing is pretty sacred to me,” she said. “I think I became more and more of an advocate for the Star over the years. As chair, it just seemed that it was foolish not to have the department and the faculty be more involved with and supportive of the paper.”