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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

Students marching toward MLK Commons on campus. DREAM Action NIU held its 10th annual Coming Out of the Shadows event on April 12. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU DREAMs on, 10 years unafraid

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | April 13, 2023

DeKALB – “Undocumented and unafraid!” were the words chanted during DREAM Action NIU’s 10th annual Coming Out of the Shadows event to encourage fearlessness and strength for undocumented students. DREAM Action NIU is a student-led organization...

Hunter Mason (left), a junior geology major and Cole Phillips, a senior geology major, are the 2023 treasure hunt winners. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Heave! ‘Treasure’ found, hunt is off

By Northern Star Staff | April 13, 2023

On the fourth day of the 2023 Northern Star Treasure Hunt NIU students Hunter Mason, a junior geology major, and Cole Phillips, a senior geology major, found the hidden paperweight. “I found it outside of Montgomery Hall in the parking lot between...

Newly appointed Director of the School of Theatre and Dance, Roxanna Conner, sitting.

School of Theatre and Dance welcomes new director

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | April 12, 2023

DeKALB – The NIU School of Theater and Dance is opening the curtains for the new director Roxanna Conner who will begin her position on July 1. Conner was selected from her vast involvement in the theater world with nearly two decades of experience...

Students looking at the reports from other students' projects for English 203. Students' projects encompassed their concerns and interests at NIU. (Rachel Cormier)

Students incorporate interests, concerns in English projects

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | April 11, 2023

DeKALB – The ENGL 203 course has been incorporating innovative changes to its research project for years. This year’s projects are no different, but the students are taking an active shift to go beyond just a good grade. NIU’s annual Showcase...

(From left) University Advisory Committee member Brad Cripe, Administrative Assistant Pat Erickson, University Council Chair and NIU associate professor Ismael Montana and NIU President Lisa Freeman sit at the council table during the University Council meeting Tuesday. (Christian Quevedo | Northern Star)

University Council discuss plans to introduce AI, virtual reality to classrooms

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | April 10, 2023

DeKALB – New technology may be introduced to NIU classrooms in the upcoming years following the University Council meeting addressing Gov. J.B. Priztker’s proposed budget for Illinois universities.  BUDGET UPDATE While addressing the budget update,...

Speaker Dallas Douglass reads from the agenda during the SGA senate’s meeting on Friday. The agenda featured a digital public comment from SGA alumn Jacob Burg, who criticized the SGA’s recent actions and performance. (Cheyanne Quintanilla | Northern Star)

Alum criticizes SGA for ‘rash decision making’

By Evan Mellon and Bridgette Fox | April 10, 2023

Clarification: The public comment by Jacob Berg was submitted as an email and read by Speaker Dallas Douglass. DeKALB – The usual calm of the Student Government Association senate’s weekly meeting was disrupted by an alum’s public comment,...

The treasure hunt is held from Monday to Friday. Can you find the Northern Star paperweight and claim the prize?

Ahoy! 2023 Northern Star Treasure Hunt begins

By Northern Star Staff | April 9, 2023

Editor’s note: This article will be updated each day to include the most current clue for the 2023 Northern Star Treasure Hunt. DeKALB — The annual Northern Star Treasure Hunt returns to campus starting Monday, April 10. Find the Northern Star...

The south side of the Holmes Student Center on a foggy day. The hospitality and tourism major has been dissolved, instead becoming an emphasis in the College of Business. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Hospitality and tourism management major to change, move

By Joseph Howerton, Video Editor | April 9, 2023

DeKALB – In 2021, NIU decided the hospitality and tourism management major would be shifted from the College of Health and Human Sciences to an emphasis in the College of Business. Students previously enrolled in the program are set to graduate in...

Multiple posters in Reavis Hall, one poster advising students to not skip class. NIU has been campaigning for students to stop missing class. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

NIU’s response to skipping class

By Michael Mollsen, Former Written Managing Editor | April 6, 2023

DeKALB – Since COVID-19, NIU students have experienced a pandemic-hangover. Its cure doesn’t involve greasy cheeseburgers, but rather a need for attendance in classes. Students may have also noticed messages from the NIU app or posters around campus...

The NIU Recreation Center’s new sign on Thursday. NIU Recreation is reviving a program where faculty and staff can play pickup basketball games. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Staff and faculty shoot hoops and build camaraderie

By Joseph Howerton, Video Editor | April 6, 2023

DeKALB – NIU’s Recreation Center is seeking to revive an old tradition – shooting hoops with faculty and staff. NIU faculty and staff are encouraged by NIU Recreation to take part in basketball pickup games at noon Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays...

NIU crime log, March 2023

By Bridgette Fox and Evan Mellon | April 5, 2023

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” means the case is closed due to circumstances...

(From left) Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Lauren Underwood and NIU President Lisa Freeman begin their tour of the clean room lab Wednesday on the second floor of the NIU College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. Underwood previously visited the lab on Jan. 20 after she secured a grant for NIU, one of the 15 projects selected for Community Projects Funding in May 2022. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Members of Congress visit NIU, update microchip funding

By Rachel Cormier and Caleb Johnson | April 5, 2023

DeKALB – Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Lauren Underwood provided an update on the $1 million in funding for the Advanced Electronics Initiative and the $1.5 million in funding for a new microchip fabrication lab in the College of Engineering and Engineering...