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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization 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

McKenna O’Donnell, a junior mechanical engineering major, plays Overwatch on Wednesday in the Esports Arena. NASCAR Chicago Street Race is partnering with NIU Esports to put on the Rocket League Rev Up Saturday. (Josephine Dunmore | Northern Star)

Gearing up for the Rocket League Rev Up

By Gabby Crabtree, News Editor | January 31, 2024

DeKALB – Buckle up for Rocket League, Chicago Street Race simulators, a NASCAR pace car, Matt Bussa and prizes from Chicago Street Race which are all coming to NIU.  NIU ESports is partnering with NASCAR Chicago Street Race from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday...

NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig screams at his wrestler in a home dual against Central Michigan University on Saturday. Ludwig eclipsed the 100 career-win mark on Dec. 19, 2023. (Elyse Jones | Courtesy of NIU Athletics)

From the Mat to Mentorship: Ludwig paving the path to 100 wins

By Zack Rodriguez, Sports Reporter | January 30, 2024

Thirteen consecutive NCAA qualifiers, 13 All-MAC honorees, 34 MAC champions, and 40 Academic All-MAC selections and a feat repeated just twice in program history: 100 career wins. In the grand tapestry of NIU wrestling head coach Ryan Ludwig's coaching...

Former NIU mens tennis head coach Patrick Fisher stands in front of a gray wall, wearing a red shirt, on Oct. 23, 2023 at the DeKalb Police Department. After an incident between Fisher and his wife on Oct. 3, 2023, police charged Fisher with domestic battery. (DeKalb Police via Northern Star Media)

Former NIU men’s tennis coach charged with domestic battery

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | January 29, 2024

DeKALB – Former NIU men’s tennis head coach Patrick Fisher was formally charged with domestic battery that occurred on Oct. 3, 2023. The case was deemed a misdemeanor. According to a court record from the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court of DeKalb County,...

Junior gymnast Isabella Sissi swings her arm as she poses during her floor routine Sunday at the NIU gymnastics Tri-meet. Sissi, the Huskies lone all-arounder, accumulated 39.050 total points Sunday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU falters in home opener after beam breakdown

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | January 28, 2024

DeKALB – From the first step in her sprint, junior Isabella Sissi had no doubt about the outcome of her pending vault routine. “I just knew right when I was running that I was going to stick it,” Sissi said. A pop off the table, a stick and...

Junior elementary education major Sarah Salem steps forward from the crowd Thursday to address another person’s comment on boycotting stores like McDonald’s and Starbucks. “Israeli people have privileges from our tax dollars that we don’t even have. They are given subsidized housing. They are given free education. They are given free healthcare,” Salem said. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Pro-Palestine supporters protest in MLK Commons

By Rachel Cormier, Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, and Sean Reed | January 25, 2024

DeKALB – Using the “Huskie Pride” sculpture as their platform, a crowd gathered Thursday in support of Palestine. At approximately 1:10 p.m. a crowd of about 30 people gathered. Students took turns sharing their stories or addressing the death...

Ryan Gosling (from left), Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig look at a screen on the set of Barbie. Gosling has been receiving far more praise for his performance as Ken in the film, where Robbie and Gerwig are receiving less praise. (Jaap Buitendijk | Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

The Oscars didn’t do ‘Ken-ough’

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | January 24, 2024

It’s Ken’s world, and we’re just living in it. Well, at least that’s what the award shows want us to think. Oscar nominations came out Tuesday, and, like always, they caused some stir in the film world.  Whether it be the Flamin’ Hot...

Junior guard David Coit (11) hooks past Toledo redshirt freshman forward Javan Simmons (1) with possession of the ball. Coit led the team in scoring, with 23 of the team’s total 73 points attributed to him. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Depleted Huskies burned by Toledo’s hot second half

By Ethan Gonzales, Sports Editor | January 24, 2024

DeKALB – The “second-half Huskies” strike again! Despite a night of putback dunks and streaky shooting from the Huskies, NIU men’s basketball (6-12, 0-6 MAC) was outscored in the second half for the 11th time this season in an 89-73 loss to...

Paintings hang on the walls of the Jack Olson Gallery for the Screenic Paradigms exhibition. The exhibition opened Monday and looks at how painting has been influenced by digital art. (Nick Glover | Northern Star)

Screenic Paradigms exhibit opens in Jack Olson Gallery

By Tamya Burch, Social Media Coordinator | January 23, 2024

The Screenic Paradigms exhibit showcases a trippy and psychedelic style of art with traditional forms of media to create a digital aesthetic.  The exhibit is curated by Ruth Lantz and features some of their own paintings alongside artists Su A Chae...

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, 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 OShea strikes a pose during her floor exercise routine at a Jan. 13 meet against Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. OShea 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, 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...