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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

Allison Spotts stands outside in a jacket and beanie hat. Spotts attended DeKalb High School and will graduate with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

Looking back at the class of 2020: Allison Spotts

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | May 3, 2024

What did your senior year look like before the pandemic? “When you're an athlete, you're seeing your soccer season and your senior night and, like, people celebrating you and stuff, and there was just really none of that, it was just, I never really...

Rohan Francis sits at a table in the Neptune Lounge. Francis attended Plainfield North High School and will graduate with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

Looking back at the class of 2020: Rohan Francis

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | May 3, 2024

What did your senior year look like before the pandemic? “One of my assistant band directors, he used to go to the YMCA which is where I would go to the gym like every evening. And so I'd see him there occasionally and he was like, ‘hey, do you...

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...

A group of protestors hold signs and chant. Students for Justice in Palestine led a protest through NIU's campus to Altgeld Hall. (Joseph Howerton | Northern Star)

Student protesters call on NIU to disclose and divest from Israel

Correction: This video was taken down at 12:00 p.m. and reuploaded to remove incorrect information, according to a statement from NIU, regarding an alleged meeting between NIU representatives and Pro-Palestine protesters. In Students for Justice in...

Zac Gill, city engineer for the City of DeKalb spoke at University Council Wednesday. Gill spoke about the construction occurring at the Normal Road and Lucinda Avenue intersection. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

FAFSA packages to be sent out next week

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | May 1, 2024

DeKALB – NIU President Lisa Freeman announced at Wednesday’s University Council meeting that, barring any other issues, financial aid packages should be sent out to first-year students by the end of next week and to returning students within the next...

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...

Members of Penguin Players rehearse their show “Everything’s Groovy” during practice on Tuesday. Penguin Players is a group that provides adults with disabilities the opportunity to perform a musical. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

NIU’s Penguin Players take center stage

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | April 30, 2024

DeKALB – NIU’s Penguin Players is a group that provides adults with disabilities the chance to perform a musical. The adults with disabilities are paired up with NIU students who act as mentors. Next semester will mark Penguin Players’ 10th year...

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...

Chris English, president of NIU’s Mars Rover club, spoke to a group of students during a Rover club meeting. The NIU Mars Rover Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays in the Engineering building, Room 254. (Courtesy of Chris English)

Rover Club tinkers for a tussle

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor | April 29, 2024

DeKALB – Gaining experience working on technology and engineering, competing in competitions and working with groups to build rovers are some of the things that are going on with NIU’s Mars Rover Team. The NIU Mars Rover Club meets at 5:30 p.m....

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...

Speaker Cole Hensley stands and speaks during the State of the SGA address Friday. The State of the SGA address provided members of SGA the opportunity to reflect on their progress and accomplishments for the 2023-2024 school year. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

State of SGA address discusses club funding

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | April 28, 2024

DeKALB – The Student Government Association reflected on their accomplishments and progress for the 2023-2024 school year for nine minutes at the State of the SGA address Friday. The State of the Student Government Association was originally scheduled...