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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

Opinion Columnist Lucy Atkinson shares a story about an unfortunate high school ski race.

That Time I… snail-paced a ski race

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | November 4, 2022

Throughout high school, some of my fondest memories are traced back to time spent on the cross-country skiing team.  One clarification must be made, however: while I skied competitively for seven years, I acquired very little glory.  Clumsy, slow...

Opinion Columnist Philip Arduini expresses his honest opinion about the Midwestern region of the United States.

Fill in the Blank: The Midwest is…

By Philip Arduini, Opinion Columnist | November 4, 2022

Quite depressing. Bad weather, losing sports teams and neglected cities make up the majority of the midwestern United States. The weather in the Midwest is extraordinarily inconvenient. Summers can get dangerously hot, and winters can be dangerously...

In the 2022 Midterm elections, registered Illinois voters will be given the chance to vote for the Workers' Right Amendment which is a step further than the current National Labor Relations Act.

You should vote “Yes” on the Workers’ Rights Amendment

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | November 2, 2022

Illinois voters will get the chance to vote in favor or against the addition of the Workers’ Rights Amendment to the state constitution this November. If you're an Illinois voter and worker heading to the polls, it is in your best interest to vote in...

Columnist Angelina Padilla-Tompkins believes voting is essential for our democracy and if you don't vote, you shouldn't complain.

Unpopular Opinion: If you don’t vote, don’t complain

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | November 1, 2022

As an American citizen, you have the right to vote for political candidates. If you choose not to exercise that right, do not complain about how elections turnout.  Midterm election season is upon us, and it is time to start thinking about your voting...

In the 2016 presidential election, voter turnout dropped to 59.6% but increased in the 2020 presidential election.

Black people need to take voting more seriously

By Quade Evans, Opinion Columnist | November 1, 2022

How many times have you been told that voting matters? A lot, I imagine. In fact, some of you probably read this title and immediately let out a sigh of annoyance at yet another politically charged hype-piece to try to win a vote.  While this piece...

Columnist Max Honermeier believes that while not all political advertisements negative, there is room for improvements.

Political advertisements have become too aggressive

By Max Honermeier, Opinion Columnist | October 31, 2022

Election season in America is impossible to avoid. Every television and radio station blares advertisements demanding that you vote for this candidate or stay away from that one. The sensory overload is enough to make me want to crawl into a hole and...

Columnist Angelina Padilla-Tompkins explains why she votes.

Fill in the Blank: I vote because…

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | October 31, 2022

…I am a woman.  Some people in my life have political beliefs that don't align with mine, and that’s OK. The joke has been made that our votes “cancel each other out.” With that mentality, why should I bother casting a vote?  I vote because...

Columnist Quade Evans believes the best rom com is "Love Jones".

Fill in the Blank: The best rom-com is…

By Quade Evans, Opinion Columnist | October 26, 2022

... "Love Jones." When we think about iconic rom-coms, “Love Actually” and “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” often come to mind. Even though they are popular movies, I find that one obscure movie from the 90s tends to stand out: “Love Jones.” The...

Illinois is currently the sixth strictest state with gun laws.

The Midwest can learn from Illinois’ gun safety laws

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | October 26, 2022

Illinois’ gun control policies stand out in the Midwest like a rose in snow. While a majority of nearby states put little energy into prioritizing gun safety, Illinois currently maintains the sixth strictest gun control in the nation according to Everytown...

A demonstrator waves a flag with marijuana leaves depicted on it during a protest calling for the legalization of marijuana, outside of the White House on April 2, 2016, in Washington. President Joe Biden is pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law, as his administration takes a dramatic step toward decriminalizing the drug and addressing charging practices that disproportionately impact people of color.

Biden’s pardoning marijuana convicts is a step in the right direction

By Philip Arduini, Opinion Columnist | October 25, 2022

Biden’s plan to pardon offenders of simple marijuana possession is a step in the right direction; however, more work needs to be done in fighting against the war on drugs. Biden announced his plan to pardon U.S. citizens charged or convicted of simple...

Students are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their academic advisor as spring 2023 enrollment opens next month.

Poll: Should academic advisers have a degree in the field they advise in?

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | October 25, 2022

Whether you’re a transfer student or have been at NIU since your first year, you’ve had to deal with an academic adviser. Michelle Pickett, director of the academic advising center, believes it is great if an adviser has a degree in the field...

Shrimp boats lie grounded atop what was a mobile home park, following the passage of Hurricane Ian, on San Carlos Island in Fort Myers Beach, Fl., Friday, Oct. 7, 2022.

Migrants will be essential to rebuilding Florida after hurricane Ian

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | October 24, 2022

Hurricane Ian swept through Florida earlier this month, leaving many without power and severely damaging communities. Someone has to help rebuild after such a disaster, and who is stepping up to the plate? Migrant workers. Migrants, both documented...