Skip to Main Content

Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

John Acardo, senior associate vice president and chief human resources officer, speaks during the Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the Altgeld Auditorium. Acardo gave a presentation regarding statistics around reaching goals to help NIU accomplish deficit mitigation strategies. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Faculty Senate holds last meeting of fall 2024 semester Wednesday

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | November 21, 2024

DeKALB – A Human Resources presentation was the main topic of discussion at the last Faculty Senate meeting of the fall 2024 semester held Wednesday. John Acardo, senior associate vice president and chief human resources officer, gave a presentation...

The Annette Johns box office sits inside the Stevens Building on Wednesday afternoon. At 8:30 a.m. Monday, around 70 faculty and students delivered a petition to NIU President Lisa Freeman at Altgeld Hall asking for the pause on recruitment for the MFA in Acting program. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Protesters rally to lift the MFA in Acting recruitment pause

By Mariestrella Corral, News Reporter | November 21, 2024

DeKALB - Staff and students called for the university to lift the freeze on recruitment for the Master in Fine Arts in Acting program. At approximately 8:30 a.m. Monday, a group of around 70 faculty and students formed in front of Founders Memorial...

A graphic depicts a snowflake, books, a computer, people sitting at desks and the words "January" and "J Term." NIU is offering a J Term leading into the spring 2025 semester, which is where specific courses will be offered over winter break. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU to offer J-term courses for second consecutive year

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor | November 18, 2024

DeKALB - After piloting the program last year, NIU will again offer J-term classes during the 2024-25 winter break. J-term classes begin after the fall semester in December and end in January before the spring semester.  “I like the fact that...

A graphic depicts a robot, a Huskie, a phone with text messages and the word "AI." On Nov. 6, NIU launched its new resource called Mission AI chatbot, which provides answers and resources to students questions. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU’s Mission AI Chatbot provides support to students

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | November 18, 2024

DeKALB – With artificial intelligence becoming more prevalent throughout the world, NIU has launched its latest resource which uses AI to provide students with support. The Mission AI Chatbot was officially launched Nov. 6 through a text messaging...

John Volgi (left), division head for Career and Technical Education from Wheeling High School and sophomore industrial and systems engineering major Matthew Vanderwater talk about NIU Supermileage visiting Wheeling High School. NIU Supermileage is a student-led organization that aims to build the most fuel-efficient vehicle and competes against other universities from several countries. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

College of Engineering and Engineering Technology hosts second annual showcase

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter | November 17, 2024

DeKALB -  The second annual Innovation Showcase held Friday featured various presentations, networking opportunities with various industry leaders present and a panel of experts discussing the way forward for artificial intelligence in their industries.  The...

Speaker Manny Corpuz and Clerk Cameron Sawyer sit at a table while Speaker Corpuz bangs the gavel on the table. Senator Matt Robinson was dismissed from the SGA Senate Friday due to accumulating too many absences. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Matt Robinson dismissed from SGA senate

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | November 17, 2024

DeKALB – Speaker Manny Corpuz announced that Senator Matt Robinson was dismissed from the SGA Senate due to too many absences at the Student Government Association meeting Friday. “I'd also like to point out that Senator Robinson has been removed...

Members of the NIU Orchestra rehearse in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall on Wednesday. Silas Huff is the director of the NIU Philharmonic and Opera Orchestras and has been at NIU since Fall 2023. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Silas Huff: Orchestral director

By Gray Edelstein and Kahlil Kambui | November 13, 2024

Editor’s note: The responses in this report have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. DeKALB – As of fall 2023, Silas Huff is the new director of the NIU Philharmonic and Opera Orchestras and the director of Orchestras for the School of...

A graphic depicts a handshake referring to a partnership, students with arrows referring to transfer students, money and paper referring to scholarships and a university. NIU has partnered with Waubonsee Community College to offer the Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU partners with Waubonsee Community College to offer new scholarship

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor | November 12, 2024

DeKALB – NIU has recently partnered with Waubonsee Community College to offer a new scholarship for transfer students called the Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship. The Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship is worth $2,000 per year for a maximum of two...

Laurie Elish-Piper, executive vice president and provost, speaks to a group of people at the 2023 College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Showcase. The 2024 College of Engineering and Engineering Technology event will be hosted Friday. (Courtesy of Matt Baron)

College of Engineering and Engineering Technology to host showcase event

By Anna Wittenkeller, News Reporter | November 11, 2024

DeKALB - NIU’s College of Engineering and Engineering Technology will host its Innovation Showcase on Friday, where AI and machine learning’s increasing role in our technology ecosystem will be in the spotlight. The showcase, which is co-sponsored...

Senators Kevin Klister and Caitlin Field sit at a table and listen to Speaker Manny Corpuz talk at the SGA meeting Friday. SGA passed resolution SR56014, which confirmed that senators will receive a stipend amount of $250 for the spring semester. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Cooper Vaske dismissed from SGA senate

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | November 10, 2024

DeKALB – During a speaker report at the Student Government Association meeting Friday, Speaker Manny Corpuz announced Senator Cooper Vaske was dismissed from SGA. “Over the past week, I've been able to update interview Senate attendance. In correlation...

Vice President Kamala Harris and president-elect Donald Trump speak at two different campaign rally events prior to the 2024 presidential election. NIU students and faculty shared their thoughts about the outcome of the presidential race. (Jacquelyn Martin, Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP Photo)

NIU students and faculty share reactions about 2024 election results

By Anna Wittenkeller, News Reporter | November 10, 2024

DeKALB - Early Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump was declared the president-elect by the Associated Press. Wednesday evening, Vice President Kamala Harris gave her concession speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Now the uncertainty...

Lindsay Harris, educational psychology co-director, speaks in front of the board of trustees about her study regarding word learning in children with visual disabilities. Other topics discussed at the Board of Trustees meeting were approval for Matthew Deitch tenure of associate professor in the Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment and approval for the termination of Lorado Taft Building (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Board of Trustees approves university’s request for $118 million for FY26

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor | November 8, 2024

Correction: This piece was updated at 1:41 p.m. Friday to remove incorrect information. The Board of Trustees did not approve the university request for $118 million. The Finance Audit Complicance, Facilities and Operations Committee approved the university...