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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

Executive Vice President and Provost Laurie Elish-Piper (left) and Vice President and Chief Financial Officer George Middlemist give a presentation about NIU's deficit mitigation plan. NIU plans on reducing the deficit to $15.4 million by the end of fiscal year 2025 and to $0 by the end of fiscal year 2026. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU to decrease deficit to $15.4 million by FY25

By Olivia Zapf, Copy Editor | September 2, 2024

DeKALB – As the academic year begins, NIU is staring down a roughly $32 million deficit, meaning finances will be lean; however, the university plans to decrease low-enrollment courses and advocate for additional funds from the state of Illinois. END...

A group of students gather at the kickoff of Food Truck Wednesdays hosted at the MLK Commons on Wednesday. Each Wednesday there will be up to 12 food trucks for students to go to. (Zahra Yousif | Northern Star)

Food Truck Wednesdays return to MLK Commons

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | August 28, 2024

DeKALB – At 11 a.m. Wednesday at MLK Commons, Food Truck Wednesdays, an NIU tradition, kicked off. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as many as 12 different food trucks were available on Normal Road for students to purchase from. Many other activities,...

(From left) Margee Myles, director of the LRS undergraduate student success center, Victor E. Huskie, Joan Phillips-Hernandez and Olivia Collier, a senior business management major pose for a photo while making the huskie sign. Phillips-Hernandez was recently hired as the new dean of the College of Business in July. (Courtesy of Rachel Schmit)

Joan Phillips-Hernandez aims for student success

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | August 27, 2024

DeKALB – Joan Phillips-Hernandez is the new dean of the College of Business. Phillips-Hernandez spoke to the Northern Star about herself and her goals as dean. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? “I'm a first-generation in my family...

The sun shines through trees on NIU's campus. DeKalb is under a heat advisory warning. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Heat advisory in effect for DeKalb through Tuesday evening

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | August 26, 2024

DeKALB – A heat advisory is in effect for DeKalb until 8 p.m. Monday, and DeKalb is in an excessive heat warning from Tuesday afternoon to Tuesday evening. Heat index values are expected to be 105 degrees to 109 degrees including heat indexes, with...

Student Pro-Palestine protesters sit and shout “Free, Free, Free Palestine,” on Thursday. NIU students are protesting for the second day in a row. (Gabby Crabtree | Northern Star)

Pro-Palestine Protesters enter Altgeld Hall

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | May 2, 2024

Editor’s note: This article was last updated at 12:35 a.m. DeKALB – At 12:25 p.m. Thursday, student protesters began to gather at the MLK Commons stairs with snacks, chalk, posters, Palestinian flags and sunscreen. The protest started marching...

Protesters gather at the MLK Commons Wednesday in support of Palestine. The protest began at 12:30 p.m. with protesters chanting while others played instruments to attempt to gather more of an attention during Food Truck Wednesday. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

BREAKING: Palestine protesters have multiple demands for NIU

By Gabby Crabtree and Rachel Cormier | May 1, 2024

Correction: This piece was updated at 11:58 a.m. to remove incorrect information, according to a statement from NIU, regarding an alleged meeting between NIU representatives and Pro-Palestine protesters. DeKALB – NIU student protesters plan to...

Different graphs shows car crash data from 2023 in DeKalb. In 2023, DeKalb had 580 more crashes than 2013. (Northern Star graphic)

DeKalb sees an increase in car crashes

By Devin Oommen and Rachel Cormier | May 1, 2024

DeKALB – As DeKalb has seen a flood of new drivers on its streets, statistics show that car accidents have risen 126% since 2013. DeKalb Police Department Commander Steve Lekkas provided background on the notable car crashes and traffic statistics...

NIU student protesters march down the permanently closed Normal Road near the MLK Commons. Palestine protesters marched through NIU’s campus on Monday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Palestine protesters march through NIU’s campus

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | April 29, 2024

DeKALB – On Monday, 43 students marched through NIU’s campus past DuSable Hall and down Lucinda Avenue, chanting “free, free Palestine” and “if we don’t get it, shut it down.” Students gathered at 2:30 p.m. around the Balance of Equality...

Three people stand talking and pointing. The Student Government Association discussed a petition to terminate the Chief Justice of the SGA Supreme Court. (Northern Star graphic)

SGA announces petition to terminate Chief Justice

By Michael Mollsen, Former Written Managing Editor | April 29, 2024

DeKALB – During Friday’s SGA senate meeting, Speaker Cole Hensley introduced a petition to terminate current Chief Justice of the SGA Supreme Court Elliot Weiskopf. In the petition for Weiskopf’s termination, it noted the court failed to convene...

The DeKalb County Courthouse, 133 W State St. sits under a blue sky with the American flag and the Illinois flag in front of it. Saturday the Walk to End Child Abuse will walk from Sycamore High School to the court house. (Northern Star file photo)

Annual Walk to End Child Abuse to happen Saturday

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | April 26, 2024

DeKALB – DeKalb County can gather to join the 14th Annual Walk to End Child Abuse and place pinwheels to represent each child the Children’s Advocacy Center served in 2023. Registration for the walk starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Sycamore High...

State Representative Theresa Mah stands and gives a speech during the Asian American in Politics event. Mah spoke about her experience becoming the first Asian American elected to serve in the Illinois General Assembly. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

State Representative Theresa Mah visits NIU

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | April 24, 2024

DeKALB – In honor of Asian American Heritage Month, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Regency Room of the Holmes Student Center, the Asian American Resource Center hosted an Asian Americans in Politics event. State Representative Theresa...

Matt Streb (left), chief strategy officer for NIU, discusses the developments for the purchase of land for the NIU Greek Life Center with Catherine Squires, vice president of University Advancement and president and CEO of the NIU Foundation. Shop owners of DeKalb's Central Business District voiced their concerns over a proposed levy for downtown DeKalb residents to reimburse the city for street maintenance costs. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

NIU expects to purchase land for Greek Life Center

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | April 23, 2024

DeKALB – New conceptual drawings of NIU’s Greek Life Center were shown to the City Council to back a hopeful consideration to purchase the land where the eventual construction of the center will take place.  The last update for the center happened...