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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Michael B. Erickson is pictured at DeKalb County Jail. He was arrested and charged with 21 counts of production of child pornography, disseminating child pornography and possession of child pornography on Monday. (DeKalb County Jail)

NIU student arrested on child pornography charges

By Mariestrella Corral, Assistant News Editor | June 4, 2025

An NIU student was charged and arrested on 21 counts of child pornography on Monday, according to a press release by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. The Batavia Police Department received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited...

The Hopkins Park pool is pictured while closed for construction. The DeKalb Park District authorized IHC Construction to begin major renovations for the pool this summer. (Northern Star File Photo)

DeKalb Park District approves new outdoor swimming facility at Hopkins Park

By Austin Lamb, News Editor | June 1, 2025

DeKALB – The DeKalb Park District Board of Commissioners authorized IHC Construction to build a new outdoor swimming facility at Hopkins Park at their April 17 meeting. The decision follows the pool’s closure last summer and subsequent demolition...

A campus police vehicle is pictured in an NIU parking lot. Crimes such as aggravated assault and theft were reported in April's crime log. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU crime log, April 2025

By Emily Beebe, Assistant Opinion Editor | June 1, 2025

DeKALB – The information in this report is compiled from the NIU Police Department’s Daily Crime Log. Any case defined as “unfounded” was not included in this list. Any case “closed by exception” is closed due to circumstances outside of...

NIU's University Council is pictured at its meeting on April 2. University Council discussed the reinstating of NIU international student visas by the Trump administration and updates regarding the proposed redesign of Normal Road at its meeting Wednesday. (Grace Kilbreath | Northern Star)

University council discusses student visas, construction at recent meeting

By Joseph Ndu, News Reporter | May 1, 2025

DeKALB - The University Council discussed the reinstating of NIU international student visas by the Trump administration and updates regarding the proposed redesign of Normal Road. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT VISAS REINSTATED In a statement to the Northern...

A road closed sign sits surrounded by snow. Work on the roundabout project at the Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road intersection will begin May 12. (Northern Star File Photo)

Normal Road roundabout project set to begin May 12

By Austin Lamb, News Editor | April 30, 2025

DeKALB – Work on the roundabout project at the Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road intersection will begin May 12 with barricade installation and utility preparation. The project is planned to be completed in August, prior to the start of classes. DeKalb’s...

Steve Larson, a mechanical engineering instructor at NIU Rock Valley campus, listens to a presentation of a pressure switch design test rig at the senior design showcase. The 2025 Senior Design Showcase will take place May 2 at the Convocation Center. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU to host engineering Senior Design Showcase Friday

By Austin Lamb and Devin Oommen | April 30, 2025

DeKALB – NIU’s 2025 Senior Design Showcase will offer a look at various engineering projects by graduating seniors including robotic arms, virtual reality simulators, biomedical breakthroughs and more. The event is free to the public and will take...

The visas of 5 NIU students have been reinstated after being revoked earlier this month. The reinstatements come after ICE announced last week that the agency would reverse the termination of legal status for international students across the U.S. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

BREAKING: 5 NIU student visas reinstated after being revoked

By Devin Oommen, News Editor | April 29, 2025

DeKALB – The visas of five NIU international students have been reinstated after being revoked earlier this month.  The university confirmed the student visas were reinstated in a statement to the Northern Star.  “The university remains steadfast...

Bill Nicklas speaks at the city council meeting on March 25. The council renewed a school resource officer program with DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 at the meeting on Monday. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

DeKalb City Council renews school resource officer program, approves infrastructure contracts

By Gabriel Monk, News Reporter | April 29, 2025

DeKalb – At its Monday meeting, the DeKalb City Council approved a new five-year agreement with DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 to continue the city’s school resource officer (SRO) program. The council also moved forward with several major...

The Student Government Association sign hangs on a wall located in the Holmes Student Center ground floor in the OASIS space. SGA held the Fall 2025 State of SGA Address on Monday. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

SGA touts student org growth among successes at address

By Mariestrella Corral, Assistant News Editor | April 28, 2025

DeKALB — NIU’s Student Government Association (SGA) held its State of the SGA event in the Capital Room of the Student Holmes Center on Monday. They reflected on their accomplishments for the 2024-2025 academic year. President Ja’Kobe Jones reflected...

The Northern Star opens 25-year old time capsule

By Ryan Day, Social Media Editor | April 28, 2025

The Northern Star opens its time capsule sealed since 2000. A crowd of about 75 students, NIU staff, alums, DeKalb residents and Northern Star staffers gathered in the rotunda of the Peters Campus Life Building to witness the reveal of the time capsule’s...

Zhao's Express is pictured on a sunny day following its recent opening. The restaurant took the place of the recently closed Panda House at 901 Lucinda Avenue.

Zhao’s Express opens in place of Panda House

By Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter | April 28, 2025

DeKALB – After the unexpected closure of American-Chinese restaurant Panda House earlier this year, DeKalb residents and NIU students did not have to wait long for an alternative. Zhao’s Express opened where the former Panda House was located on...

Senators Kevin Klister (left) and Matt Robinson sit and listen at the SGA meeting on Oct. 18, 2024. On Friday, SGA failed to meet quorum and scrapped all remaining legislation as a result.

SGA fails to meet quorum, scraps remaining legislation

By Austin Lamb, News Editor | April 28, 2025

DeKALB – The Student Government Association (SGA) failed to meet the quorum of 11 senators required to conduct a senate meeting and scrapped all remaining legislation for this year’s session. The SGA had 10 of the 11 senators required at Friday’s...

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