Excerpts are taken directly from the Northern Star archives. The spelling and grammar have not been changed in an attempt to preserve the authenticity of each news item that took place “before you were here.” Unless, of course, you were here. In which case, stop reading the paper and concentrate on graduating already.

Today is October 6. There are 70 days left in the semester. On this day:

10 years ago

— There was not a Northern Star published on this date.

20 years ago

— A revised proposal that supports voluntary drug testing and emphasizes the education and prevention of drug abuse was presented Friday in draft form to a subcommittee of the Athletic board. The draft, title Alcohol and Drug Abuse Assistance Program for Athletes (ADAAPA), was presented in replacement of the original proposal that supported mandatory drug testing for student athletes.

— The death of Robert Lurz, a Genoa man allegedly shot by two legally blind NIU students, was ruled homicidal at a DeKalb county Coroner’s inquest Friday.

— The state will seek the death penalty for Mathew Reimann, a 19-year-old charged with the Aug. 24 stabbing death of his next door neighbor. Reimann, 1111 E. Taylor St., pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Friday to charges of murder and three accounts of aggravated criminal sexual assault in connection with the death of Sharon Rollins, 41, of 1105 E. Taylor St.

30 years ago

— NIU President Richard Nelson has offered university land to DeKalb for the site of a fire station. The offer was a gesture to show the university’s good faith in trying to assist the city with its fire department expenditures, Nelson said.

— About 35 students enrolled in section six of Finance 320 learned Tuesday, almost mid term, their class had been cancelled. The students were asked to join one of the remaining 10 sections of the course.

— A claim that blacks are not being represented on the University Judicial board Committee was brought before the Student Association Senate Tuesday night. Lester Hemingway, off-campus senator, claimed that interest of black students before the board will not be represented unless the fifth member picked is black.

40 years ago

— Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) has not given up its fight against the decision to place the Fraternity o social probation. Al Lannom, TKE treasurer, said Wednesday that TKE has appealed the decision to Dean Ernest E. Hanson, vice-president of Student Personnel Services.

— The Park Board expects to beautify the property about the old Ellwood mansion, received from the pioneer capitalist’s heirs. The mansion is now leased to a committee of DeKalb and NIU citizens to be made into a museum.

50 years ago

— There was not a Northern Star published on this date.