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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

Rashad Bilal, co-founder and co-host of the Earn Your Leisure podcast, Troy Millings, co-founder and co-host of the Earn Your Leisure podcast and Lauren Underwood, representative in Illinois' 14th congressional district, sit at a table in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium Tuesday. Underwood, Bilal and Millings held a town hall event about financial literacy from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

Rep. Lauren Underwood visits NIU for town hall event

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | October 22, 2024

DeKALB – Lauren Underwood, representative of Illinois’ 14th congressional district, visited NIU for an event focused on financial literacy. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday around 15 people gathered in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium for a town hall...

White, green and orange pumpkins sit in front of Jewel-Osco located at 1320 Sycamore Road. The annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival will kick off Wednesday and go through Sunday. (Ryanne Sandifer | Northern Star)

Annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival kicks off Wednesday

By Abel Naranjo, News Reporter | October 21, 2024

DeKALB — The annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival will kick off Wednesday and include several events from a giant cake-cutting ceremony to a pie-eating contest.  The first pumpkin festival happened in 1956 when Wally Thurow, a Sycamore resident, displayed...

Leaves are scattered on the ground nearby Greek Row on Monday afternoon. DeKalb's annual Loose-Leaf Leaf Collection will start Monday and go through Dec. 6, weather permitting. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

DeKalb to begin annual Loose-Leaf Leaf collection Monday

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor | October 21, 2024

DeKALB – DeKalb’s annual Loose-Leaf Leaf Collection will begin Monday and continue until Dec. 6, weather permitting.  Leaves are to be collected Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents of DeKalb should rake their leaves into a narrow...

A group of NIU students paint canvases at the Night at Holmes: Homecoming Edition event which occurred Thursday. Night at Holmes was one of the many events that occurred throughout Homecoming Week. (Joseph Ndu | Northern Star)

Night at Holmes and Smores N’ More events closed out Homecoming Week

By Joseph Ndu and Abel Naranjo | October 20, 2024

DeKALB – The Campus Activities Board hosted its Night at Holmes: Homecoming Edition event, which was just one of many events that took place during NIU’s 117th Homecoming Week. The event took place from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday at the Holmes Student...

Ivory Rucker, former Student Government Association chairperson, holds the microphone and addresses the other senators during her speech. In a vote of 11-0-1, Rucker was confirmed as the SGA director of Public Affairs. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

SGA confirms new director of Public Affairs

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor | October 20, 2024

DeKALB –  During an Executive branch report at the Student Government Association meeting Friday, SGA treasurer Ethan Pesavento shared with the senators his idea of starting an annual funding presentation and also hopes to have the annual funding...

Police lights flash behind caution tape. At 11:03 p.m., Tuesday at Rich Road, west of Nelson Road, a hostage situation occurred which left the suspect dead. (Northern Star File Photo)

Shooting near NIU Convocation Center occurred Sunday

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | October 20, 2024

Editor’s note: This piece will be updated as more information becomes available. DeKALB – At approximately 12:40 a.m. Sunday, in a parking lot on the west side of campus near the NIU Convocation Center, a shooting occurred. NIU Police and DeKalb...

The clarinet section of the NIU Marching Band plays to the time marked by the drum major in front of their section at the Homecoming Block Party event Thursday. The marching band provided music for the entire parade and pep rally. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU hosts annual Homecoming Block Party in downtown DeKalb

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor | October 17, 2024

Correction: This piece was updated at 11:03 a.m. Friday to remove incorrect information regarding the DJ name. The DJ's name is not Swag Surfin. Swag Surfin is the song that was played at the end of the Block Party event. DeKALB –  Hundreds...

The Union Pacific station between North Sixth and North Seventh Street's railroad crossings sits in desperate need for repair with its boarded up windows and holes through its brick walls. The City of DeKalb expects to hear by the end of the year as to whether or not they can move forward with their plan to bring a Metra train station to DeKalb. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

City expects update on possible DeKalb Metra extension by year’s end

By Devin Oommen, News Reporter | October 17, 2024

DeKALB – The City of DeKalb expects to know by the end of the year whether they can move forward with the second phase of a study to bring a Metra station to DeKalb.  Last year, DeKalb and NIU co-sponsored a feasibility study that provided insight...

Andria Revolorio, a first-year psychology major, and Ellie Andries, a sophomore jazz studies major, pick up trash alongside the East Lagoon at the clean-up event Wednesday. The event was hosted from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Clean Our Campus event hosted Wednesday at East Lagoon

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor | October 16, 2024

DeKALB – Outdoor Adventures and Campus Environmental Sustainability group held Clean our Campus - Lagoon Clean-Up Day from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday  The focus was on the East Lagoon. Six people – a mix of staff and student volunteers – worked...

Jose Plascencia, a junior finance major, sits behind a desk, while Jason Gorham, director of Business Consulting in the College of Business, places papers on the desk in the Experiential Learning Center located in Barsema Hall. The Experiential Learning Center provides students with real-world experience working with a company to solve real-world business issues. (Anna Wittenkeller | Northern Star)

Experiential Learning Center provides students real-world workforce experience

By Anna Wittenkeller, News Reporter | October 16, 2024

DeKALB - The Experiential Learning Center in Barsema Hall Room 303 provides real-world experience for NIU students of all majors. As part of the College of Business, the ELC program is led by Jason Gorham, the director of Business Consulting.  “It’s...

A graphic depicts the Braven logo, "UNIV 301," a sign that says "Enroll," two people talking, an outstretched hand and a resume. Enrollment in UNIV 301 has decreased since 2022. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Enrollment in Braven class has decreased since 2022

By Joseph Ndu, News Reporter | October 15, 2024

DeKALB – Enrollment in UNIV 301: Braven Leadership and Career Accelerator, a class offered at NIU by Braven, has been on a downward trend since its inception in 2022. Ayumi Tachikawa, director of workforce strategy at Braven, described the course...

Smoothie King workers stand behind the counter preparing smoothies. Located at 1015 W. Lincoln Highway, Smoothie King opened Monday. (Mariestrella Corral | Northern Star)

Smoothie King serves up smoothies to DeKalb community

By Mariestrella Corral, News Reporter | October 15, 2024

DeKALB – Smoothie King has officially opened its doors to the public, hoping to serve the DeKalb community a healthy snack in a cup. Located at 1015 W. Lincoln Highway, between Baba’s Steak and Lemonade and Starbucks, Smoothie King opened Monday....