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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

Eric Armstrong, vice president of the DeKalb Area Alano Club advocates for funding for his organization on Monday at the City Council meeting. The city approved a list of human services grants to various local non-profits in DeKalb. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

City council grants $700,000 for non-profit, economic development

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | January 23, 2024

DeKALB – NIU will contribute $2.5 million to the city for the usage of the Huskie Bus Line for 2024.  The five-year intergovernmental agreement for the university to use the buses for an integrated transit system operated by the city recently ended...

Shaan Keswani, a graduate student studying pre-medicine, walks down the sidewalk Monday through MLK Commons. A winter weather advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. Tuesday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Winter weather advisory, NIU moves to virtual operations

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | January 22, 2024

Editor’s note: This article was last updated at 5:38 a.m. to include NIU’s announcement of switching to virtual operations. A winter weather advisory for Northern Illinois is in effect until 9 a.m. Tuesday. There will be periods of freezing...

Stephanie Meyn, a Cortland resident, shares a Crumbl chocolate chip cookie with her 17-month-old son Zachary. Meyn received a free chocolate chip cookie for having the store’s mobile app downloaded at the grand opening. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

Crumbl Cookies comes to DeKalb

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | January 21, 2024

DeKALB – Normally chocolate chips, Kentucky Butter Cake and brownies are desserts that would all be found separately. But Friday’s grand opening of a Crumbl Cookies store in DeKalb had customers bringing home boxes of each in the form of gigantic...

NIU sophomore Kiera O'Shea strikes a pose during her floor exercise routine at a Jan. 13 meet against Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. O'Shea scored a 9.900 on vault, a score that is tied for the fourth-best in program history. (Courtesy of Dena Martz)

Huskies explode with team-record scoring in ‘meet of the year’

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 20, 2024

NIU gymnastics found its rhythm Friday after putting together one of the greatest performances in team history: multiple season-highs, even more personal bests, three podium finishes, and a new program record. Eight Huskies achieved personal bests...

Play's premiere, "Napoleon Dynamite" highlight this weekend

Play’s premiere, “Napoleon Dynamite” highlight this weekend

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | January 18, 2024

Editor's note: If you want your event featured in next week's Weekend Roundup, email information to [email protected] Friday Night: Play "Unintended Consequences": 7:30 p.m. at Stage Coach Players, 126 S. 5th St. Michael Patterson...

NIU football and basketball's radio announcer Andy Garcia speaks at Winter Sports Media Day on Oct. 24, 2023. Garcia was announced as the new play-by-play radio commentator of NIU football and basketball following the retirement of Bill Baker. (Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

Passing of the mic: new “Voice of the Huskies”

By Zack Rodriguez, Former Sports Reporter | January 17, 2024

From the elevated confines of the press box to the press row down below, radio broadcast legend Bill Baker’s 44-year legacy will be succeeded by another Huskie luminary: NIU volleyball, gymnastics, basketball and football radio and television sportscaster...

A communal bathroom sits empty on the second floor of Neptune Hall West. Neptune experienced an issue with a boiler valve resulting in a lack of hot water. (Northern Star File Photo)

Neptune residents start semester without hot water

By Rachel Cormier and Michael Mollsen | January 16, 2024

DeKALB — A cold splash of reality brought Neptune East and West residents back from winter break when they were met with ice cold showers the weekend before the spring semester. Students reported freezing cold shower and sink temperatures as early...

Freshman computer science major Sebastian Santellanes pushes a dorm move-in cart down the icy sidewalk Monday toward the southern entrance of Stevenson Towers. As classes begin Tuesday, the National Weather Service has issued a wind chill advisory and expects a high temperature of minus 2 degrees on the first day back. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU students bundle up and move in

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | January 16, 2024

DeKALB – NIU students and families braved the cold weather to move into residence halls for the spring semester over the weekend. Friday, all residence halls opened for students to move in, whether it was new students joining for the spring semester...

An illustrated Bill Baker hangs up his headphones during his final radio call at Huskie Stadium. Baker has retired after 44 years of play-by-play radio broadcasting for NIU football and basketball. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

COLUMN: Thank you, Bill Baker

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 15, 2024

For over 43 years, listeners who tuned in to the Huskie Radio Network heard the unmistakable voice of play-by-play announcer Bill Baker.  One of NIU’s most revered radio personalities, Baker served as the play-by-play voice of NIU football and basketball...

Then-sophomore Emmalise Nock poses during her floor routine at an NIU gymnastics home meet on Feb. 17, 2023 at the Convocation Center. Nock tied for second place with NIU freshman Mikayla Brown on the floor exercise event to lead the Huskies to a victory over Bowling Green State University on Saturday. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Gymnastics grounds Falcons in MAC opener

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | January 13, 2024

Six different Huskies earned podium finishes as NIU gymnastics earned its first victory of the season in the first meet of its MAC competition schedule. NIU (1-2-1) outperformed conference rival Bowling Green State University (0-2) on three of four...

A blanket of snow covers the ground outside Altgeld Hall. NIU's campus operations will be virtual Friday Jan. 12 due to hazardous weather. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU’s campus moves to virtual operations Friday

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | January 11, 2024

Editor's note: The article was last updated at 3:30 p.m. to clarify that while some buildings are closed, services are still available for students virtually.   DeKALB– Due to extreme weather conditions, NIU’s campus will be virtual from 8 a.m....

NIU cheerleaders perform their opening routine at a home NIU football game on Sept. 9. NIU football averaged 9,198 fans per game during the 2022 season, good for last out of all FBS schools. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Why are NIU stadium seats so empty?

By Kalin Schaefer, Sports Reporter | November 29, 2023

DeKALB – Looking out into the stands at NIU sporting events, there is not the sea of black and red that is expected at college sports games.  Attendance at NIU football games averaged 9,198 people in the 2022 season, which is the second-lowest average...