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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

A graphic shows money burning as an arrow, representing the United States' growing national debt, shoots upward. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst believes that the U.S.'s debt problem is a ticking time bomb with no simple solution. (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

The national debt has no easy solution

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | November 18, 2024

Elon Musk, co-head of Donald Trump’s planned Department of Government Efficiency, has suggested that he can cut $2 trillion from the annual budget of the United States. Immense government spending is certainly increasing the national debt, but this...

A protestor holds the Israeli flag during a protest following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of the Israeli Defense Minister Nov. 5. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti warns that if Israel continues to navigate conflicts with little regard for human life, it’ll be no better than the terrorist organizations it aims to defeat. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Israel crosses dangerous moral lines

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | November 17, 2024

Editor's note: This column contains triggering content relating to war.  Israel has begun what it considers its final crusade, but the nation must act with more humanity as it navigates – and furthers – various conflicts.  Israeli Prime Minister...

Mt. Thamserku sits under a pink sunset sky east of Khumjung village in Nepal. Opinion Columnist Lalita Rai grew up in Nepal and attends NIU as an international graduate student. (Lalita Rai | Northern Star)

International student pushing through

By Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist | November 17, 2024

I was born and raised in Khumjung, a small village in Nepal. My father was a teacher before he retired. When I was a child my father taught me that knowledge is the only asset no thief can steal. So, I began dreaming of collecting as much knowledge as...

A manacle hangs in the center of a red portrait, blood splattering off of it. Assistant Opinion Editor Jackson Shields believes that America's continued use of punishments like penal labor and the death penalty is evidence of a bloodthirsty system. (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

For America, justice means blood

By Jackson Shields, Assistant Opinion Editor | November 14, 2024

An infernal machine rests in America’s heart, growling with power as its operators bark orders at technicians, cuffed and shackled, toiling away at its circuitry. Those that don’t drop dead of exhaustion are bound to be driven insane, unless they're...

Lanterns and candles glow in celebration at Pottenger House, the location of the NIU Center for Burma Studies and the NIU Center for Southeast Asian Studies, on a late autumn evening. Opinion Columnist Lalita Rai encourages international students to find ways to connect with their culture on campus. (Courtesy of Aye Myat Mon)

Culture must be evolved, not abandoned

By Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist | November 13, 2024

Culture is an identity for all human beings, and each person reflects their culture. Every international student has their own culture, traditions, customs and languages. International students may miss that culture when they are away from home, but...

Nuclear reactors, a solar panel and a wind turbine sit beneath the words “Look Both Ways” and above the topic of the week. Is nuclear or renewable energy more beneficial and realistic? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Nuclear and renewable energies

By Ethan Ernst and Santiago Montañez Bertoletti | November 13, 2024

RENEWABLE ENERGY By: Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist The output of a nuclear power plant compared to its environmental impact is far superior to renewable energy. Even still, nuclear energy is too expensive and time consuming to adopt widely. Small...

Five segments display five elements - sodium, iron, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen - as they appear on the period table and with a basic atomic structure diagram. Which periodic element is most like your personality? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Poll: Which periodic element best represents your personality?

By Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist | November 12, 2024

Chemistry is the science of the structure, composition and unique properties of elements and compounds.  To date, scientists have identified 118 elements, each with its own distinct characteristics. Just like elements, people also have unique personalities...

Tamaya Duplechin, a senior business administration major, responds to a street interviews prompt. What are you grateful for? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: What are you grateful for?

By Jackson Shields, Assistant Opinion Editor | November 11, 2024

In this time of uncertainty and stress, it’s more important than ever to surround ourselves with the people, places and things which bring us comfort and relaxation. Whether it’s a hard working parent who's always there for you or a quiet space...

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,...