Skip to Main Content

Northern Star

 

Advertisement

 

 
Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media since 1899

 

Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst’s Neptune West residence hall window is firmly shut on a chilly autumn day. Ernst encourages all students in residence halls to remain cognizant of the impact seemingly small decisions can have, like leaving dorm windows open during cold weather. (Ethan Ernst | Northern Star)

Don’t leave residence hall windows unattended

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | November 11, 2024

Temperatures are dropping as fall starts to settle in. The days when Neptune West needed to keep its windows open to stay cool are past, but shutting the windows against the cold took longer than necessary this year. For a few cold mornings, the halls...

A graphic shows a man contemplating between two different sides: one filled with images of books and tests, the other with football and partying. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti believes that homecoming's placement in late fall semester presents unnecessary conflicts in a college student's life. (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

Homecoming’s timing should change

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | November 10, 2024

Homecoming is a special date for all colleges. It is a time of celebration, where reunited fraternities and sororities meet from far away, friends celebrate and the university prepares to show off to parents why it was a good choice for their children....

Six panels show pictures of different classic international foods and the flags of the countries they originate from, including: tacos, croissants, sushi, pizza, burgers and momo. What's your favorite classic international dish? (Northern Star Graphic)

Poll: Which classic international food is your favorite?

By Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist | November 7, 2024

The beauty of the United States is its diversity of people. When people from various places gather, they bring different cultures, food and languages.  In the U.S., there are lots of options for finding international foods from Mexico, Japan, France,...

Two shadows lean in toward each other over a phone with a notification from “Baby” that reads “Hey, where are you?????” Opinion Columnist Lalita Rai believes infidelity is never justified and that the status of every romantic relationship must be continuously communicated between partners. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cheating is never justified

By Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist | November 6, 2024

Some people are OK with their partners in other relationships as long as they remain outside the house. Others marry partners arranged by their families, even if they’re in love with someone else. However, no matter how open-minded your partner is,...

Vice President Kamala Harris smiles during her concession speech Wednesday at Howard University in Washington. Assistant Opinion Editor Jackson Shields encourages Harris supporters to hold onto hope and continue the fight, echoing Harris' concession speech. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump wins, America bleeds

By Jackson Shields, Assistant Opinion Editor | November 6, 2024

America bleeds. As of the morning of Nov 6, 2024, Donald Trump has been elected as the 47th president of the United States. For the four years since his last presidency ended in attempted insurrection, those few words have hung over the heads of the American...

A graphic depicts a circle broken into two halves – one containing the Republican elephant, the other containing the Democratic donkey – as it explodes from within. Opinion columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti believes that America's two-party system should be broken up in favor of a flexible multi-party one. (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

Third parties deserve more voice in US

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | November 5, 2024

In the United States there have always been two parties. This is not unique to American politics. Many nations like the United Kingdom or Colombia began with two main factions. However, over the years many countries have developed multi-party systems...

Alessandra Alvizo, a first-year law student, responds to a street interviews prompt. What are your stress levels at right now, and how do you manage that stress? (Northern Star Grahic)

Street Interviews: Managing stress

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | November 4, 2024

It’s mid-semester, graduation and finals are fast approaching, and today we elect our nation’s president for the next four years. It’s a stressful time.  Students across campus have a variety of ways they handle stress, and since Wednesday...

A young child watches as Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris speaks Monday at a campaign event in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Opinion Editor Lucy Atkinson pleads for voters to think of America’s future generations and cast a vote for Harris this election. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Vote for Harris, vote for the future

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | November 4, 2024

When Donald Trump won the 2016 election, I was 12. I remember my father saying he’d eat his hat and we’d all move up the border to Canada if it happened. I remember my mother’s worried face on election night as we watched it happen, and I remember...

First-time voters hold up signs that clarify their status as first-time voters during an event Oct. 29 in College Park, Georgia. Editor-in-Chief Olivia Zapf recognizes the chaotic rush of information voters have faced this election season, encouraging first-time voters to listen to their own hearts on Tuesday and be unafraid to cast a vote. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Musings of a first-time voter

By Olivia Zapf, Editor in Chief | November 4, 2024

Every news outlet and political candidate in America is trying to tell you what to think, who to vote for, what to care about and how to support the United States through this tumultuous time. As a first-time voter, I am confused.  Where are the best...

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris claps her hands and smiles while speaking Sunday at a rally on the Michigan State University Campus. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko hopes voters will remember Donald Trump’s attacks on Harris’ initiative are clearly misplaced with a better understanding of the vice president’s role in the White House. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Educate yourself on the vice presidency

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist | November 3, 2024

After the Sept. 10 presidential debate, Donald Trump posed a question which sparked dynamic discussion: if Kamala Harris has served as vice president for three and a half years, why hasn’t she enacted any of her policies yet?  This question is unnecessary...

The silhouettes of four U.S. electors and a graph meant to represent the popular vote are separated by a versus symbol beneath the words "Look Both Ways" and the topic of the week. Is the Electoral College or popular vote the better system? (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Electoral College versus popular vote

By Olivia Zapf and Jackson Shields | October 31, 2024

With Election Day right around the corner, the debate between the Electoral College and popular vote is once again heating up. The popular vote is a democratic system in which a country’s citizens decide who is placed in power. Simply put, in an...

The word "Vote" is surrounded by various symbols representing issues important to the American public this presidential election. With just a few days until the election, which issue is most important to your vote? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Poll: Which issue is most important to you this election?

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | October 31, 2024

The Nov. 5 general election is nearly upon us, and the two main candidates – Kamala Harris and Donald Trump – have spent the campaign season outlining their proposals and ideas and garnering the support of their respective parties.  This election...