“Friday Night Lights” may seem like another dramatic football movie made all too often, but in actuality, it was adapted from a true story written in 1988. The story of “Lights” is anything but a “Varsity Blues”-style romp, which frames the...

You never know what to expect with the new Q and Not U album. Its first album, “No Kill No Beep Beep,” successfully utilized Fugazi-influenced guitar antics. Their second album, “Different Damage,” reflected the loss of its bass player by incorporating...

For my first - and most likely only - jacking of a trade, I felt humanitarian and hit up the Committee for the Preservation of Wildlife. What better way for a guy who avoids the outdoors at all costs and used to sleep in the car during family camping...

Behind every good movie, there is a good screenwriter. However, oftentimes, the writers of a film fall to the wayside when big-name directors and flashy stars dominate the credits. Gerald DiPego, an NIU and Northern Star alumnus with more than 30 years...

R. Kelly and Jay-Z considered performing in DeKalb, but fellow rap artists Lloyd Banks and Shawnna have made it a done deal. On Saturday, the duo will perform at the Convocation Center as part of the Homecoming Jam. Students can purchase tickets for the...

Welcome back to another fresh edition of Playback, yo! This week’s compilation comes from Sumiko Keay, receptionist for University Programming and Activities. DeKalb resident Keay’s most recent concert experience was Saturday at The Lord of the Rings...

From MTV to NIU, Cribs is in the house ... well, residence hall. Throughout the semester, Sweeps will delve into the dopest domiciles NIU students inhabit. This week, we visit the pretty in pink ... and purple pad of NIU students Amanda Johnson and Allison...

You are out on a date. You have had a wonderful evening. You really like this person. You would like to go out again. And then it happens. WHAM! You are now face-to-face with a little white slip of paper that says it’s time for you to fork over a dead...

Florida was just hit with more bad news: A new hurricane has formed and is scheduled to arrive at 5 p.m. Saturday. Its name is NIU. The University of Central Florida Golden Knights will play host to the NIU football team in Orlando, Florida. The hopping-mad...

Editor’s note: First person is a recurring feature that finds Northern Star reporters relaying their first-hand observations of happenings around campus. In this edition, Sweeps Editor Greg Feltes shares the story of the most important election of our...

Welcome to the biggest, baddest edition of Playback yet, playa! This week’s dream CD comes from senior nursing major Aisha Brownlee. The Chicago native has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta for two years. Her sorority sisters describe her as a versatile...

From MTV to NIU, Cribs is in the house ... well, residence hall. Throughout the semester, Sweeps will delve into the dopest domiciles NIU students inhabit. This week, we visit the phat pad of NIU student Matt Taillon. The first thing you notice as you...