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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Eight students smile while hanging onto a rock climbing wall. NIU's Climbing Club has been an official sports club since 2022 and is open to all students. (Sofia Didenko | Northern Star)

Hold on, hang out with NIU’s Climbing Club 

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist | February 20, 2024

“I love climbing, it's the perfect balance of physical performance with, like, solving problems,” said Cassandra Phillips, a physics doctoral student and president of Climbing Club. Phillips has been solving vertical challenges since childhood,...

Actors José María Yazpik (from left), Dakota Johnson and filmmaker S. J. Clarkson pose on the red carpet premiere of "Madame Web" in Mexico City. "Madame Web" is the most recent Marvel movie to come out. (Marco Ugarte | AP Photo)

‘Madame Web’ swings and strikes out

By Lindsay Curtis, Copy Editor | February 20, 2024

“Morbius” has a new contender for worst superhero movie following the release of “Madame Web.” Released on Valentine’s Day, “Madame Web,” directed by S.J. Clarkson, is the fourth and newest movie to come from Sony’s Spider-Man Universe.  The...

Brynn Krug (left) and Sarah Rose sit at a podcast set up and converse. This week’s episode of “The Trend” covers social media phenomena from the week of Feb. 12. (Brynn Krug | Northern Star)

No one likes ‘Madame Web’

By Sarah Rose and Brynn Krug | February 19, 2024

Join Sarah and Brynn as they discuss this past week in pop culture. From Madame Web, to Kanye West's album being taken down to the Dune 2 premier outfits, get the rundown here. What are your thoughts on these topics? Are they "in" or are they "out"?

A circle of zodiac signs sits on top of a starry sky. Astrology is something many people believe makes a difference in their lives. (Getty Images)

Let the stars guide you: understanding astrology

By Sierra Usmani, Lifestyle Writer | February 19, 2024

The birth, existence and death of every star creates life all throughout our universe. Without the stars, our home here on Earth would not be this beautiful.  But what if I told you the stars do more than create life? What if I told you they have...

NIU English professor Dr. Lara Crowley stands in front of an outdoor background. Dr. Crowley is currently working on her second novel which is inspired by the late writer John Donne. (Courtesy of Lara Crowley)

NIU professor works on second book

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer | February 19, 2024

The study of the written word is a noble and timeless pursuit, especially so for one professor in the NIU English Department, Lara Crowley.  Currently working on her second novel, with a working title of "Dubiously Donne: Attribution and Literary...

A graphic depicts a blue and purple space background with 12 constellations spread out in a circle. The horoscopes this week suggest a week of passion and compromise. (Northern Star File Photo)

Beginning of Pisces season brings new wave of emotions

By Hannah Soukup, Assistant News Editor | February 18, 2024

With Pisces season beginning Monday, unresolved emotions might surface, but this is for the best. The plethora of planets in Aquarius makes for a confusing time for all signs, but Pisces season will break up this confusion and allow for compromise and...

The door of the Sally Stevens Players Theatre sits closed after a weekend full of performances. NIU’s most recent play “Anxious People!” opened this week. (Nick Glover | Northern Star)

‘Anxious People!’ gives exposure therapy for anxiety

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer | February 18, 2024

Anxiety, at its core, is a deeply human condition. As social creatures, people are prone to intense feelings when outside pressures hinder and interrupt their own experiences.   Audiences were treated to stories and experiences of people dealing...

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,”...

A poster for the play "Anxious People!" depicts letters cascading down against a black background. NIU's School of Theatre and Dance will perform five showings of "Anxious People!" (Courtesy of Andy Dolan)

School of Theatre and Dance to perform ‘Anxious People!’

By Tamya Burch, Social Media Coordinator | February 16, 2024

Doors open today for the NIU School of Theatre and Dance’s first production of the spring semester.  “Anxious People!” is a play written by Seattle-based Parley Productions member Carol Lee. The play will focus on the cascading stories that...

Santiago Montañez Bertoletti (left), Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Emily Beebe and Ian Halterman sit in the Northern Star's podcast studio. Star Notes episode 5 discuss Star Wars: Bad Batch ahead of the third season's upcoming release. (Olivia Zapf and Brynn Krug | Northern Star)

‘The Bad Batch’ coming soon, Disney’s Star Wars vision

Ian and Santiago teach Emily and Angelina about "The Bad Batch" before Season 3 comes out on Feb. 21. Angelina also shares her thoughts about the direction Disney has taken the Star Wars franchise.

Game character Vegeta floats in the sky as an explosion takes place below him. The new trailer for "Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero" anticipates new attacks and characters to fight. (Courtesy of YouTube)

‘Sparking Zero,’ best Dragon Ball game ever

By Jonathan Shelby, Lifestyle Editor | February 15, 2024

With the release of yet another trailer for the next big Dragon Ball game, “Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero,” more details have come to light about what to expect from the game on its release.  The newest trailer, known as “Rivals,” premiered...

All you can eat crabs, variety show highlight this weekend

By Jonathan Shelby, Lifestyle Editor | February 15, 2024

Editor’s note: If you want your event featured in next week’s Weekend Roundup, email information to [email protected] FRIDAY: Home School Group Activity: 1 p.m. at Jubilee Artisans, 128 E. Lincoln Highway AYCE Crab Dinner at...