Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Members of NIUs School of Theatre and Dance pose across a stage. The Spring Dance Concert is the last show of the SOTDs 2023-2024 production season. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Spring Dance Concert leaps into action

By Brynn Krug, Chief Copy Editor | April 25, 2024

As audience members flipped through their playbills, soft orchestral music played while a crimson curtain shielded the dancers awaiting behind it. Thursday was the first night of the School of Theatre and Dance’s Spring Dance Concert, the last production...

A poster for the Spring Dance Concert hangs in the Stevens Building. This will be the School of Theatre and Dance’s last show of the 2023-2024 production season. (Brynn Krug | Northern Star)

Spring Dance Concert begins Thursday

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer | April 23, 2024

The annual Spring Dance Concert is taking place this weekend, starting at 7:30 p.m. on April 25 in the O'Connell Theatre in the Stevens Building.  This year’s program, “The Continuum of Change,” will feature four distinct works, “Cog/nition,”...

Characters from the upcoming Star Wars game talk to each other. Ubisoft released a cinematic trailer for Star Wars Outlaws on April 9. (Ubisoft under Fair Use)

‘Star Wars Outlaws’ fantastic or flop

By Jonathan Shelby, Lifestyle Writer | April 23, 2024

Since its announcement in 2021, “Star Wars Outlaws” has been surrounded by mixed opinions on whether it will be good, and the new trailer doesn’t help the game’s case.  On April 9, Ubisoft released a cinematic trailer showcasing pieces of...

Actor Henry Cavill attends the premiere of The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, at AMC Lincoln Square, Monday, April 15, 2024, in New York. Both The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare and Abigail succeed at being fun cinema. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

‘Abigail,’ ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’ master fun cinema

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | April 22, 2024

After a decade of multi-hundred million dollar budget superhero movies making up the cultural zeitgeist, the mid-budget is slowly making its comeback.  Mid-budget movies have a budget between $10 million and $75 million.  This weekend alone two...

Singer Peso Pluma stands in front of a white background. Peso Pluma will perform at the Latin American Music Awards Thursday. (Latin AMAs 2024 Virtual Press Room)

Latin American Music Awards take place Thursday

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Editor-in-Chief | April 21, 2024

The ninth annual Latin American Music Awards, Latin AMAs, will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday.  The theme of this year’s award show will be, “We Speak Música.” The Latin AMAs will be co-hosted by Alejandra Espinoza, Carlos Ponce and none other...

A woman holds her hands to her head while sitting with a computer in front of her. Overthinking can cause problems for both your mental and physical health. (valentinrussanov | Getty Images)

Overthinking leads to stress

By Sierra Usmani, Lifestyle Writer | April 17, 2024

Overthinking is when you over analyze every little detail and add on thoughts and ideas that aren’t true or necessary; it can lead to worry and stress.  Suzanne Degges-White, chair of Counseling and Counselor Education at NIU and a licensed counselor,...

Kirsten Dunst (from left), Wagner Moura and Cailee Spaeny stand inside the White House in a clip from Civil War. Civil War follows a group of journalists looking to interview the president during a civil war. (Murray Close | A24)

‘Civil War’ masters filmmaking, not story

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | April 15, 2024

Alex Garland’s “Civil War” has one of the most bonkers premises ever and while it often leaves that premise underdeveloped, the film – on a technical level – is destined to be one of the best of 2024.  The film follows a group of journalists...

A lone helldiver hurries to the ship before it leaves without him in a clip from the game Helldivers 2. Helldivers 2 was quietly updated in early April. (Sony Interactive Entertainment under Fair Use)

‘Helldivers 2’ releases secret updates

By Jonathan Shelby, Lifestyle Writer | April 11, 2024

One of the most insanely popular and widespread games of this year, “Helldivers 2,” has gotten yet another new shadow update which introduced more quality-of-life changes and other new things to spice up the game.  “Helldivers 2” is a co-op...

A person holds a paper cutout of intestines over their stomach. Gut health is important to ensuring proper physical health. (SewcreamStudio | Getty Images)

Prioritize your gut health

By Sierra Usmani, Lifestyle Writer | April 10, 2024

Our gut is the king of our body. As humans, we need to eat to stay alive. If our gut is having issues, then everything else in our body and health will be negatively impacted.  The gut controls the breakdown of our food and helps turn it into nutrients,...

A Nintendo Switch with the title screen for South Park: Snow Day! sits on a white surface. The newest game in the South Park universe, South Park: Snow Day! changes animation and play style from previous games. (Lindsay Curtis | Northern Star)

New ‘South Park’ game disappoints

By Lindsay Curtis, Lifestyle Writer | April 9, 2024

The newest installment of the “South Park” game franchise, “South Park: Snow Day!,” reinvents itself, and, just like recent seasons of the show, it isn’t good. A direct sequel to previous video games, “Snow Day!” continues to follow the...

A man in a monkey mask kicks another man standing in a fighting ring in a scene from Monkey Man. Monkey Man, Dev Patels directorial debut, released Friday. (Universal Pictures via AP)

‘Monkey Man’ adds soul to action

By Nick Glover, Lifestyle Editor | April 8, 2024

English actor – and now director – Dev Patel has released his first film as a director, “Monkey Man,” and it is a modern action masterpiece.  Released Friday, the film follows a young boy from India who is in poverty and forced into the underground...

Beyoncé accepts the Innovator Award from Stevie Wonder at the iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Beyoncés albums have changed throughout history nad have spanned multiple genres. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Beyoncé’s career spans decade, genres

By Tamya Burch, Social Media Coordinator | April 4, 2024

From “Dangerously In Love” to “COWBOY CARTER,” Beyoncé has found a way to transform as an artist without losing herself. With the recent release of Beyoncé’s newest album, “COWBOY CARTER,” it is time to take a deep dive into her 34...