Throughout life, people have a series of defining moments or lessons. They are fleeting compared to our long lifetimes, but they are key points that we will vividly remember years later as those that changed the direction of our destiny. They...

TV SHOWS SHOULD NOT COVER ADULT TOPICS: By: Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor TV shows such as Euphoria and Bluey, while geared toward children and teenagers, tend to cover adult topics such as violence and infertility. While some people may find this...

A lot has happened in the first quarter of 2025. To commemorate what life is like at NIU right now, the Northern Star will be opening a time capsule sealed in April 2000 and creating a new one.  The time capsule opening and Northern Star Open House...

Video games have taken the world by storm. The first video game, “Tennis for Two,” was created in 1958 and followed by a multitude of current popular titles like “Minecraft,” “Fortnite” and more.  There are various reasons to enjoy video...

A lot happens in 25 years. Twenty-five years ago, a large chunk of NIU’s student body wasn’t born. In 2000, the most played song was Faith Hill’s “Breathe,” President Bill Clinton was in the Oval Office and the world was still mildly high from...

In the lively, topmost layer of our lovely lithosphere – in our soils – worms and other organisms play an important ecological role. But sharing a planet with people tends to complicate their productivity. The March sky filled with a bright red...

Why did you feel it was necessary to explain the basic principles of journalism to me?  I’m asking because you’ve also just shared that journalism is not your major, and I’ve just shared it’s the discipline I’ve been studying for three years.  I...

MERCURY RETROGRADE IS A SUPERSTITION By: Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Columnist Astrological topics like Mercury retrograde and zodiac signs are no doubt interesting conversation starters, but they shouldn’t play a dramatic role in dictating your hopes...

The role of a free press in a democratic society is to hold those in power accountable and inform the public with factual unbiased reporting. Any media policy that seeks to control or manipulate the flow of information is a direct threat to this foundational...

NIU offers different restaurants on campus such as Qdoba, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Starbucks. Although students may enjoy these alternatives to the dining halls, students may wish that there were other restaurant options on campus. What restaurant...

In today’s day and age, harassment and bullying have become a prominent component of the American school system. Whether it be on the basis of body type, race, sexuality or just individuals being cruel, millions of children experience some form of bullying...