Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization 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

Vote for your favorites in Best of DeKalb 2023.

Northern Star opens voting for Best of DeKalb 2023

By Northern Star Staff | February 1, 2023

It’s time to vote for Best of DeKalb 2023! Best of DeKalb gives you the opportunity to vote for your favorites in 27 categories such as Best Fraternity, Best Sorority, Best NIU Faculty Member, Best Pizza Place, Best Place to Watch Sports, Best Coffee...

A view of the Union Pacific owned train tracks looking southwest from the currently out-of-service DeKalb train station parking lot at the corner of East Locust Street and North 6th Street in downtown DeKalb. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Firm begins DeKalb Metra study

By Colin Kempsell | January 31, 2023

DeKALB – NIU is missing a major mode of transportation: A commuter rail. This could change in the coming years as the city evaluates the possibility of a Metra train station and has already begun investing in one. On Jan. 9, the DeKalb City Council...

Valentines Contest 2023: Best Meet-Cute Story

Valentine’s Contest 2023: Best ‘Meet-Cute’ Story

By Northern Star Staff | January 30, 2023

In honor of Valentine's Day, we are asking couples to submit their "meet cute" story (how they first met before they started a romantic relationship). Please fill out the form telling us your “meet cute” and submit a photo of you and your partner...

The Student Government Association Speaker of the Senate, Dallas Douglass (left), converses with newly appointed Clerk of the Senate, Chris English, near the end of Friday’s SGA meeting in the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center. (Cheyanne Quintanilla | Northern Star)

SGA appoints election commissioner, deputy speaker and clerk

By Evan Mellon, Assistant News Editor | January 29, 2023

DeKALB – Following the appointment of the board of elections, the Student Government Association has appointed its election commissioner and appointed senators to fill missing spaces in the Senate. Senator Ethan DeMuse was appointed to the role of...

A NaviLens accessible wayfinding QR code on a door at the Normal Road entrance of
Holmes Student Center. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

NIU introduces self-navigation system

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | January 29, 2023

DeKALB – Colorful block QR stickers are popping up all over campus on bathrooms, stairwells and prominent buildings around NIU – but when scanned, most students won’t realize that these patterns are not meant to be seen, but heard. NaviLens is...

One of two properties that the fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu, or Sammys, operates within on a snowy day on Greenbrier Road in the Greek Row neighborhood. Sammys has been in operation with support from the fraternity’s national chapter for the past five years, despite being unrecognized by NIU in 2018. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

‘Sammys’ fraternity seeks return to good standing

By Caleb Johnson, News Reporter | January 28, 2023

DeKALB – Spring semester brings new change as the Gamma Lambda chapter of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, colloquially known as “Sammys,” begins the process of returning to good standing under the leadership of new president Farzeen Ansari. The...

Mission III, the newest addition to the Huskie pack, walking around and meeting the NIU community for the first time on Friday at the Holmes Student Center. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Continuing the Mission legacy with Mission III

By Joseph Howerton, News Reporter | January 27, 2023

DeKALB – Say hello to the newest member of our pack, Mission III. Mission III’s introduction was met with awe from the crowd as he said hello with some energetic barks.  This three-month-old pup was introduced to the public at noon Friday in the...

Members of the Faculty Senate sitting in banquet style seating at Wednesdays meeting at Altgeld Hall in the second floor auditorium. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Faculty Senate talks phishing scams, AI cheating

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | January 26, 2023

DeKALB – In NIU’s first Faculty Senate meeting of 2023, members discussed virtual threats, artificial intelligence boosting plagiarism and the future of SURSMAC.   CYBER CRIME AGAINST NIU In a report explaining the role of information...

An automated machine that separates out wastewater samples for the NIU Covid-19 surveillance lab to test for traces of the virus. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Wastewater screening indicates campus COVID-19 levels

By Bridgette Fox, News Editor | January 26, 2023

DeKALB – Although students are no longer required by NIU to screen for COVID-19, wastewater screening shows how much of the virus is present at different residence halls – which is a tool for students trying to stay healthy. Barrie Bode, professor...

Members of the UFA, consisting of tenured and tenure-track NIU faculty, gather to protest at the beginning of the Board of Trustees meeting on Dec. 8 in Altgeld Hall, Room 315. The demonstration consisted of the union members holding up paper plates with phrases relating to the ongoing negotiation for the unions contract. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Tenured union and NIU continue negotiations Friday

By Evan Mellon and Bridgette Fox | January 25, 2023

DeKALB – The union for tenured faculty and NIU will continue negotiating a new contract this week. The union has been working without a contract since July 1. On Friday, the unions will have its first negotiations back on campus since Dec. 15. The...

NIU crime log, Dec. 2022

By Northern Star Staff | January 24, 2023

Dec. 1 At 5:27 p.m., aggravated battery reportedly occurred on Stadium Drive East. This case was suspended. At 5:30 p.m., disorderly conduct reportedly occurred at Stevenson Residence Hall South. This case was closed by exception on Dec....

NIU President Lisa Freeman (center) discussing student involvement in NIUs Greek Life beside Associate Director for Institutional Communications, Joe King, during her meeting with the Northern Star on Monday at her office in Altgeld Hall. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

President Freeman talks tenure changes and more in university goals

By Bridgette Fox, News Editor | January 24, 2023

DeKALB – NIU President Lisa Freeman’s university goals, which the Board of Trustees will use to evaluate her performance at the end of 2023, spoke about future standards – including broadening the criteria for tenure. “I think we believe that...