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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Water seeps into the carpet of Patterson Hall East, even side. At 1:10 a.m. Thursday, residents were rushed out of their dorms due to flooding. (Gabby Crabtree | Northern Star)

BREAKING: Flooding forces residents out of dorms

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | February 29, 2024

Editor’s note: This piece will be updated as soon as more information becomes available. DeKALB – Some Patterson Hall East first floor students are temporarily displaced to the Holmes Student Center Hotel due to a flood. At 1:10 a.m. Thursday, a...

Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper (left) and Vice President for Administration and Finance and CFO George Middlemist stand behind a podium presenting NIU’s deficit mitigation plan. Wednesday’s University Council meeting focused on different strategies NIU will use to combat its $33.7 million deficit. (Hannah Soukup | Northern Star)

University Council discussed new projects to offset deficit

By Hannah Soukup, Assistant News Editor | February 28, 2024

DeKALB – New strategies to combat budget offsets and increase revenue and enrollment following Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed higher education budget for fiscal year 2025 were discussed at University Council Wednesday.  In November 2023, the Board...

Former president Donald Trump raises a fist on Feb. 24 at a primary election night party in Columbia, South Carolina. Opinion Columnist Will Thiel believes Trump’s recent controversial statements about NATO were justified. (AP Photo | Andrew Harnik)

Trump’s NATO remarks benefit America

By Will Thiel, Opinion Columnist | February 27, 2024

Donald Trump is the only viable presidential candidate who can say what he wants on TV because he is not afraid to challenge the status quo and expose the political left's hypocrisy.  Holding a minority lead in the polls, Trump manages to capture...

Two NIU Police officers enter doors to investigate an unverified bomb threat and shooter threat at 8:33 a.m. Barsema Hall, home to NIU’s College of Business was the target of the anonymous threat. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Authorities investigate unfounded threats against NIU, Kent State

By Sean Reed, Photo Editor | February 26, 2024

Editor’s Note: This article was updated at 3 p.m. Monday to include additional information on the ongoing investigation. DeKALB – After investigation from NIU Police, with support from Illinois and federal authorities, the university determined...

Then-sophomore pitcher Mason Ruh delivers a pitch to a Central Michigan University opponent on April 7, 2023. Ruh allowed seven runs on 10 hits in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against Northwestern State University. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Baseball falls to No. 2 LSU and Northwestern State in doubleheader

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter | February 23, 2024

NIU baseball was swept in its doubleheader to open its four-game weekend in Louisiana, losing to the defending National Champions in No. 2 Louisiana State University and Northwestern State University.    GAME 1 NIU’s short lived lead disappeared...

Ke’ra Craig, a first-year theology major, taps her One Card on the card reader to unlock a door to Neptune Hall. On Wednesday, NIU had a software issue causing One Card readers to temporarily stop working. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

OneCard glitch caused lock outs

By Rachel Cormier and Hannah Soukup | February 22, 2024

DeKALB – At around 10:50 a.m. Wednesday, OneCard services across campus shut down, leaving students and faculty stranded outside residence halls and their dorm rooms. Joe King, associate director for institutional communications at NIU, addressed the...

A screenshot from “Helldivers 2” shows a player fending off a horde of bugs as they finish completing an objective. “Helldivers 2” released Feb. 8. (Jonathan Shelby | Northern Star)

Launch feet first into ‘Helldivers 2’

By Jonathan Shelby, Lifestyle Editor | February 21, 2024

After a long day at work and dealing with the everyday challenges we call life, it is nice to forget all of it, boot up the old PS5 and play some co-op shooter games with friends.  Most co-op games are fairly laid-back, having a team of players fight...

El Jimador sits with decorative lights hanging up around the awning. El Jimador is a Mexican restaurant in DeKalb that was recently named the business of the year. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Business Spotlight: El Jimador Mexican Grill

By Hannah Soukup, Assistant News Editor | February 20, 2024

Editor’s note: This article is not sponsored by El Jimador and is not an endorsement from the Northern Star as an organization.  DeKALB – El Jimador Mexican Grill, established in 2020, provides authentic Mexican food with biweekly events for members...

Marlon Wayans takes the stage Thursday for a free comedy show exclusive to NIU students at the Carl Sandburg Auditorium in the Holmes Student Center. The CAB sponsored event, featuring the “Scary Movie” and “White Chicks” actor, was sold out before the day of the event. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

NIU roars with laughter: Marlon Wayans live

By Isabel Cambray, Lifestyle Writer | February 18, 2024

DeKALB – Marlon Wayans, the youngest out of 10 siblings from the Wayan legacy, hosted a sold-out show Thursday at the Holmes Student Center. Wayans needed no introduction as he has been in countless projects such as “The Wayans Bros,” “Scary Movie,”...

The words “BEST OF DEKALB 2024” float between golden brackets. Voting for the 2024 Best of DeKalb is now open. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

Best of DeKalb 2024 voting now open

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | February 18, 2024

Best of DeKalb voting for 2024 is now open!  From Monday to Feb. 29 NIU students, faculty and staff, along with DeKalb residents, can vote on their favorite places in 22 categories.  Some of the categories include best bar, best coffee shop, best...

NIU President Lisa Freeman (from left), George Middlemist, vice president and chief financial officer, and Dennis Barsema, board secretary of the NIU Board of Trustees sit at a table during the Feb. 15 Board of Trustees meeting. NIU's Finance, Audit, Compliance, Facilities and Operations committee will discuss NIU's deficit at Thursday's meeting. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU to increase tuition, housing, student health insurance

By Rachel Cormier and Gabby Crabtree | February 16, 2024

DeKALB – While NIU expects a $2 million increase to its now budgeted $33.7 million deficit, the projected 2024 fiscal year deficit could bring the total down. NIU’s Finance, Audit, Compliance, Facilities and Operations Committee met  Thursday to...

NIU President Lisa Freeman (left) and family members of victims of the 2008 Valentine’s Day shooting stand near the memorial garden during a moment of silence Wednesday. The garden features a sculpture by Bruce A. Niemi titled “Remembered,” which was installed in October 2009. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: Moving Forward, Together 16 years after NIU shooting

By Sean Reed, Photo Editor | February 14, 2024

Editor’s note: This gallery has been updated as of 3:15 p.m. Thursday to correct an error in which Charlotte and Lawrence Gehant were incorrectly identified as Laurel and Joe Dubowski, who did not attend the event. DeKALB – NIU hosted a vigil for...