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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

Madison Wescott holds an energy drink in front of her food truck, Main Squeeze. Wescott sells homemade lemonade and energy drinks to pay for her college tuition. (Courtesy of Madison Wescott)

NIU student pays for school with lemonade

By Joseph Howerton, Video Editor | November 16, 2023

DeKALB – It’s not uncommon for youths to raise money with a lemonade stand, but one NIU student has chosen to take it a step further. Madison Wescott, a junior political science major with an emphasis in law, has been managing a food truck for...

A mug sits on a marble counter. Ashley Klockenga, an NIU alum, has created a mug that embodies the spirit of DeKalb. (Courtesy of Ashley Klockenga)

DeKalb-inspired mug brews community attention

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | November 15, 2023

DeKALB – Coffee drinkers can experience a taste of DeKalb’s community after a NIU alum was inspired to create a mug that reflects the city.  Ashley “Ann” Klockenga, an NIU alum, created a mug that displayed the history and essence of DeKalb’s...

A tattoo on Proton Tattoo’s tattoo artist Grant Katula’s arm shows a raccoon guarding a trash can with a shotgun. Students shared their first tattoo stories and advise others to consider the price and art that’ll be imprinted on their bodies. (Brandon Clark | Northern Star)

Tattoo lovers talk first tattoos, advice, cost

By Brandon Clark, News Reporter | November 15, 2023

DeKALB – Getting a tattoo can be a common rite of passage for 18-year-olds looking to assert their newly gained status as adults. However, getting a tattoo can be a costly regret without proper consideration.  First-year finance major Nick Neagle...

Victor E. Huskie walks Mission II onto the Huskie Stadium football field alongside Lisa Boland, coordinator for the mascot program, with Mission III. Mission II officially retired as NIU's live mascot at the NIU football game against Western Michigan University on Nov. 14. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Mission II officially passes collar to Mission III

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | November 15, 2023

DeKALB – Mission II took a final bow during this week’s football game against Western Michigan University. He trotted around the Huskie Stadium one last time before entering a relaxing life of retirement and allowing Mission III to take over. Mission...

Steam rises out of the top of Patterson Hall West on Nov. 13. A steam relief valve caused an emergency evacuation of Patterson Hall residents around 2 a.m. on Nov. 14. (Courtesy of Lydia Dunker)

Patterson Hall steam valve bursts, repairs finished

By Gabby Crabtree and Joseph Howerton | November 14, 2023

DeKALB – At 2 a.m. Tuesday in Patterson Hall, an alarm sounded, waking up students and evacuating them out of the residence hall. When students flooded outside, they realized it wasn’t a drill but an actual emergency.  A steam valve had ruptured,...

City Manager Bill Nicklas discusses the city's tax rates with the Council. The City Council approved the city's annual property tax levy at the City Council meeting on Nov. 13. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

Corporate levy to increase home value, not taxes

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | November 14, 2023

DeKALB – DeKalb homeowners won’t be seeing major changes to their taxes this year, but they will see their property values increase. The city of DeKalb’s corporate levy for 2024 will be $1 million higher than last year’s. The city’s corporate...

Jay Jarvis, program assistant for transfer programming, takes off on their Apollo electric scooter outside the Peter Campus Life Building. NIU students and faculty are using e-vehicles to travel around campus. (Rachel Cormier | Northern Star)

Riding in style or convenience?

By Joseph Howerton, Video Editor | November 13, 2023

DeKALB – Scooters, bicycles, skateboards and more powered by electricity are becoming a popular form of transportation for students to slide around campus.  E-vehicles are an alternative method of transport students are using to get around campus....

Three students stand at podiums while presenting and talking. The SGA rejected a proposed statement and petition intended to address Muslim student concerns about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on Nov. 10. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

SGA fails statement, petition for lack of Jewish voices

By Rachel Cormier, News Reporter | November 12, 2023

DeKALB – The SGA rejected its proposed statement regarding the Israel-Hamas war written in response to Muslim students’ safety. The association rejected a similar petition, which would have recommended NIU provide educational and mental health...

Michael Embrey, a DeKalb resident and Air Force veteran, speaks at the Veterans Day Ceremony at Memorial Park. Embrey recognized members of the crowd who have helped DeKalb earn the title of National Veteran City of the Year. (Gabby Crabtree | Northern Star)

Community gathers to honor veterans

By Gabby Crabtree, Former News Editor | November 11, 2023

DeKALB – 70 DeKalb community members gathered to honor veterans and their service to our country at Memorial Park on Saturday. Michael Embrey, a DeKalb resident and Air Force veteran, spoke at the ceremony. He gave recognition to different people...

The Board of Trustees conduct its meeting at Altgeld Hall, Room 315. NIU’s Finance, Audit, Compliance, Facilities and Operations Committee discussed the $18 million operating deficit for the 2023 fiscal year. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)

Board reports $18 million deficit for 2023 fiscal year

By Devin Oommen, News Reporter | November 9, 2023

DeKALB – An $18 million operating deficit for the fiscal year 2023 was reported by NIU’s Finance, Audit, Compliance, Facilities and Operations Committee.  The deficit of $18,563,414 is in part the result of the university earning $4.6 million...

Cole Hall, Room 100, sits empty after classes on Tuesday. Cole Hall houses the Pick Museum of Anthropology. (Ariyonna McGahee | Northern Star)

Examining the effectiveness of lectures

By Brandon Clark, News Reporter | November 9, 2023

DeKALB – If you listen close while walking the corridors of DuSable Hall, you can hear the sound of higher education, and it sounds like a lecture.  Lectures have been used to educate since the time of Socrates and Plato, but modern students, like...

Members of the Women and Gender Advocacy Alliance stand on stage in the Duke Ellington Ballroom. The alliance hosted its annual event, Take Back the Night, on Wednesday. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Take Back the Night rallies in spite of rain

By Victoria Wakeford, News Reporter | November 9, 2023

DeKALB – Survivors of sexual and domestic assault spoke out about their experiences during the annual Take Back the Night event in the Duke Ellington Ballroom.  The Take Back the Night protest, hosted by the Women and Gender Advocacy Alliance, rallied...