For me, home will always be the four-bedroom house I grew up in on the South Side of Chicago. However, after almost two years at NIU, I have found a place second-best to my real home, and guess what? You’re reading a part of it right now.

Two years ago, I began my journey at NIU and the Northern Star. While I’ll spare you the boring details of the typical first-year tribulations and triumphs that you, too, will encounter, I will tell you why the Star has become my home away from home and what it means to you.

For a typical freshman, getting lost in the crowd – sometimes the wrong crowd – is easy to do. Had it not have been for the positive distraction of the Star, I probably would have found myself on the first bus out of DeKalb straight back to Chi-town.

While the Star may or may not impact your college experience as much as it has mine, believe it or not, it can serve as a stepping stone during your journey at NIU.

The mission of the Star and its employees is to provide you with news that affects you. While you can look to the Star for the latest news from NIU and the surrounding cities, you also can find the latest national, world and entertainment news.

Did you know that the Star is the only local morning paper in DeKalb? With a circulation of 16,000 (Monday through Thursday) and 13,000 (Friday), the Star is delivered to more than 250 locations on the NIU campus and throughout the DeKalb area. The Star covers a wide range of news relating to NIU, the DeKalb area, state, national world and entertainment.

Not a fan of reading the newspaper? Log on to the Star’s Web site (www.northernstar.info) for the news you can read in print, and also explore so much more. Log online for the latest breaking news, archives of previous editions of the Star, cool online-only features columnists and Web specials. Star Living, a section of the Web site geared toward entertainment and lifestyle, features daily updated recipes, movie reviews and a database of drink recipes, to name a few. For the past two years, our Web site has won the Associated Collegiate Press’ Online Pacemaker Award. Also for the past two years, the Web site has received one of the highest honors from Editor and Publisher magazine, the EpPY award for Best College Newspaper Internet Site.

So what’s this buzz about a new radio station? That’s right, both you and I will be part of the return of student radio to campus. NSRadio, which will be available online via the Star’s Web site, will feature music of all types of genres, as well as live and specialty programming, local music, news updates and sports wrapups.

Got nothing to do on the weekend? Not if you read the Star’s weekly entertainment supplement, the Weekender. Weekender, a special pullout section appearing each Thursday in the Star, is your guide to the latest events, shows and bands hitting the DeKalb scene. With movie and CD reviews, plus a weekly blast from the past with the Master of Old School Entertainment (M.O.O.S.E.), the Weekender is sure to convince you to leave your suitcases unpacked come the end of the week.

Have an idea for the Star? I’d love to hear from you. The staff of the Star always is looking for new story ideas, additions to our regular content and feedback on how we’re doing from our main audience — you. If you have any suggestions for the Star, questions about NIU, or just need an ear to listen to you, I’m here to listen. Stop by the Star’s office during normal business hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) at the Campus Life Building, Suite 130, call 753-0105 or e-mail me at [email protected].

Welcome to NIU and don’t forget to look to the Star for the latest news that affects you.