UPDATE: Two NIU students test positive for COVID-19
Northern Star Staff
March 25, 2020
DeKALB — Two NIU students and one DeKalb County resident have tested positive for coronavirus. One of the students is a resident of DeKalb County, which brings the county's COVID-19 case count up to three. Both students are self-isolating, an email from NIU President Lisa Freeman states. One of t...
DeKalb business owners come up with new ways to keep operations going
Jamie O'Toole, Senior Reporter
March 25, 2020
DeKALB — After Illinois governor JB Pritzker ordered non-essential businesses to close until April to prevent the spread of COVID-19, many DeKalb business owners described the experience as daunting. With unexpected closure, they’ve had to improvise in order to keep operations flowing and custom...
President Freeman announces student account adjustments
Northern Star Staff
March 24, 2020
Students’ accounts will be adjusted in accordance to the shortened time spent on campus, Freeman wrote in an email sent to students this evening. All NIU students will receive a $25 per-credit-hour adjustment by April 10, on their MyNIU accounts for general fees. Students will also receive credit f...
University to make announcement on grading policy by end of week
Noah Thornburgh, Managing Editor
March 24, 2020
DeKALB — The university will make an announcement regarding its grading policy for the semester at the end of this week, according to a university statement, as other institutions across the country switch to pass/fail grading policies. The spread of COVID-19 and suspension of face-to-face classes has led ...
SGA election polls open online
Northern Star Staff
March 24, 2020
Student Government Association election polls for the 2020-2021 academic year are open for voting now until 6 p.m. Wednesday through HuskieLink. Election campaign videos for SGA candidates are available on YouTube. Contact Election Commissioner Devlin Collins at dcollins5@niu.edu or Sabrina Self...
DeKalb County UNITES aims to unify community to support economy
Matt Boecker, Assistant Sports Editor
March 24, 2020
DeKALB — NIU and DeKalb County leaders have come together to support small businesses during the trying economic times brought by COVID-19. Due to the mandated restrictions on some businesses, local businesses and government officials have formed an initiative called DeKalb County University and...
Student workers cease work, will receive money from university
James Krause, Senior Reporter
March 24, 2020
DeKALB — NIU will pay a one-time stipend to all undergraduate student employees after deciding to cut all non-remote student jobs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university announced Monday. Any undergraduate student employee who worked from Jan. 16 to March 8 will receive a stipend on...
Some important stories you may have missed while away on spring break
Northern Star Staff
March 23, 2020
DeKALB — Welcome back, students! If you didn't check out the Northern Star over spring break, here's just some of the news you missed: March 21 Statewide 'stay-at-home' order issued by Pritzker First case of COVID-19 confirmed in DeKalb County Commencement postponed until August, university says SG...
Library facilities to close due to COVID-19 pandemic
Quentin Wilson, Senior Reporter
March 23, 2020
DeKALB — Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NIU administration has decided to close all library facilities for the remainder of spring semester. Students received an email Monday from the Dean of Libraries, Fred Barnhart, informing them of the university's decision. “Diminishing access ...
Seniors forced to alter their capstone projects after COVID-19 restrictions
Noah Johnson, Senior Reporter
March 21, 2020
DeKALB — Some honors students won’t be able to complete their senior capstone projects as planned due to COVID-19, Edye Cowan, associate director of academic strategic planning for the honors program, said. This comes amid statewide closures, cancellations and a stay at home order issued by Gov....
First case of COVID-19 confirmed in DeKalb County
Northern Star Staff
March 21, 2020
DeKALB — A resident in their 40s is the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in DeKalb County, the county health department announced Saturday in a news release. No other information will be released about the individual at this time, health department administrator Lisa Gonzalez said. The health...
DeKalb churches look to live streaming as stay-at-home order goes into effect
Parker Otto, Senior Reporter
March 21, 2020
DeKALB — As a result of COVID-19, churches across DeKalb have shut down due to safety concerns. However, many churches will continue to host services without having crowds of people grouped together. Many local churches have begun live streaming their services across social media platforms, like ...
