Weekender was curious what the biggest news story to hit NIU this year has been. WE asked 10 students to rank 10 events in order of newsworthiness. First-place votes were worth 10 points, second place votes worth 9 points, third place votes worth 8 and so on – equaling 100 possible points for each event. Here are the results:

l The football team: 82

l The faculty pay increase: 67

l The Rec Center renovation and reopening: 66

l Vice President Cheney visiting the campus: 62

l The new Alumni Center: 61

l Altgeld Hall reopening: 58

l Concerts like Bob Dylan, Incubus and Howie Day: 42

l Marketing Apprentice class: 40

l New Athletic Director Jim Phillips: 38

l J ay-Z and R. Kelly’s road crew rehearsal and possible concert: 34

“It’s good to have [Jim Phillips] from a prestigious school come to help us out.”

– Sara Boykins, junior FCNS major on her No. 7 selection.