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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

Columnist Max Honermeier prefers cold showers over warm because it has health benefits and reduces energy costs.

Unpopular Opinion: Cold showers are better than hot showers

By Max Honermeier, Opinion Columnist | October 24, 2022

A cascade of hot water feels amazing, but paradise doesn’t last forever. After stepping out of the steamy bathroom, the world is a cold and gloomy place. However, the opposite can be made true by turning the knob to blue. Stepping into a cold shower...

A Planned Parenthood health center is shown in Waukegan, Ill., June 28, 2022.

Thank you, Planned Parenthood Mobile

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | October 23, 2022

To those left thirsty for hope in a world recently plagued by bad news, look no further. Planned Parenthood has brought positive development to quench that need.  The non-profit organization has announced that it will soon be providing abortions through...

Opinion columnist Lucy Atkinson writes about the importance of adding the "A" for arts along with STEM

Unpopular Opinion: The “A” belongs in STEAM

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | October 21, 2022

From the chaotic energy of fifth-grade classroom science experiments to the anxiety of the night before a high-school math exam, most people hold memories acquainted with STEM: the educational focus on science, technology, engineering and math in K-12...

Columnist Angelina Padilla-Tompkins talks about her first visit to the ER.

That Time I… had my first ER visit

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | October 20, 2022

You know when your parents say, “don’t wait to go to the doctor,” turns out, they’re right.   This past summer I had what felt like the beginning of a stress cold. There was a lot going on and I wasn’t getting enough sleep, so I assumed...

President Joe Biden speaks about gas prices in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Washington.

Don’t blame Biden for the recent gas price increase

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | October 19, 2022

When something goes wrong in a country, it is only natural to blame its leader. However, President Joe Biden should not be blamed for the recent spike in gas prices.  Do you remember when the pandemic began and gas prices plummeted to nearly two dollars...

Police scanners have been a way for citizens to stay informed but major cities like Chicago are moving to encrypted channels.

Encrypted police channels are harmful to transparency

By Philip Arduini, Opinion Columnist | October 19, 2022

By the end of 2022, all of the Chicago Police Department’s radios will be moved to digitally encrypted channels. This move ultimately results in a transition towards a lack of transparency. Police scanners have long been used by many in order to...

A sign reading "Nord Stream 2 Committed. Reliable. Safe." hangs above a painted map of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany at the natural gas receiving station in the Lubmin industrial estate in Lubmin, Germany, Nov. 16, 2021.

Who sabotaged the Nord Stream pipelines?

By Max Honermeier, Opinion Columnist | October 18, 2022

The tension in eastern Europe just went up a notch. Nord Stream One, a pair of natural gas pipelines connecting Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea, have ruptured in what CNBC calls “the single largest release of methane in history.” The incident...

Columnist Max Honermeier believes people like Coca-Cola because of its advertising and addictive caffeinated taste.

Unpopular Opinion: Coca-Cola is the worst soda

By Max Honermeier, Opinion Columnist | October 18, 2022

Go to the soda aisle of any supermarket, and you’ll find the same thing: huge sections of shelves dedicated to red and white cans. Coca-Cola has long held the crown for the world’s most valuable soft drink brand, according to Brand Finance's 2021...

Columnist Angelina Padilla-Tompkins offers her recommendations on how to celebrate spooky season in DeKalb, Chicago and at home.

Fill in the Blank: My recommendations for spooky season are…

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | October 17, 2022

With Halloween just around the corner, this is the time to jump into the spooky spirit. There are plenty of events in the northern Illinois area that will get you in the perfect October mood.  Community events  The 25th annual DeKalb Chamber Spooktacular...

Winter is not as enjoyable as people think it is.

The worst season is… winter

By Quade Evans, Opinion Columnist | October 17, 2022

That’s right, I finally said it. Winter is, in fact, the worst season of the year. When I ask other people to imagine the winter season, the image of snow capped mountains, cozying up on the couch with a warm cup of cocoa comes to mind. That concept...

Scientists have been toying with the idea of bringing back the dodo bird through hybridization.

The way of the dodo: Scientists need to continue the study of de-extinction

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | October 16, 2022

Less than 200 years after humanity stumbled upon its habitat in the Mascarene Islands, the dodo bird was completely lost. Today, the dodo is recognized as one of the most famous symbols of human-caused extinction, according to Britannica.  However,...

Being able to understand "Death Note" encourages enjoyment of the show.

That Time I… watched ‘Death Note’

By Abhishek Poddar, Opinion Columnist | October 16, 2022

The game of cat and mouse, “Death Note,” is a show that is a suspense done right. I had seen this show as a kid when it was on-air, but from a kid's perspective, the show is just a hero vs. villain. As an adult in my twenties, I could appreciate the...