When coming to college, many students grapple with the task of selecting a field of study to pursue. With many factors to weigh, this decision can create a tornado of doubt. Students  are torn between their strengths, parental and cultural expectations,...

Stories are strange and winding roads that can take us to many different places. Maybe that’s at the wheel of a great galleon ship being tossed between the waves, in the thick of battle with swords raised high, or aloft in a gnarled tree’s nook, gazing...

There are few words more challenging to define than art, because to define art is to detract from the unique quality that makes it special in the first place: its fluidity. From one person to the next, there is no stable understanding of what art is,...

Pushing through the airport security and walking past the different environments, I looked behind me and saw the four most precious people in my life waving at me. I couldn’t tell what they were thinking or what they were saying because I was too far...

Let’s stop for a moment and ask ourselves a question: How many conflicts are happening right now? How many countries are in crisis right now?  We all know what is happening in Ukraine and Palestine. Eastern Europe is experiencing one of the biggest...

Breakfast – the most important meal of the day.  But let’s face it – college students have their own quirky take on what makes a “balanced” breakfast. It’s National Better Breakfast Month, so with a dash of sarcasm, let’s dive into the...

From commentary of specialists and polls, the general consensus seems to be that Democrats are more confident in their candidate compared to Republicans after the Sept. 10 presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald...

ANIMATED TV BETTER THAN LIVE-ACTION By: Jackson Shields, Opinion Columnist Consider the story of David and Goliath. David, the young and scrawny shepherd, stands before the towering Goliath with only a slingshot and a single stone; he faces insurmountable...

At NIU, many of us college kids are new to the world of adulting. Our childhood memories are still pretty fresh, and we’re figuring out how to manage social relationships, bills, work commitments and less time for carefree play.  We’re also...

One part of my life I feel luckiest for is having a sister.  When I was born, mine brought a dandelion to the hospital to greet me with, clutched in her tiny, toddler fingers. Every day after that, my sister – who is two years older than me –...

Imagine a college football game stripped of its soul, reduced to mere athleticism without the electrifying presence of the marching band. NIU needs the marching band more than ever, and we are taking it for granted at our football games. The football...

It’s not outrageous for workers to request a tip. Stop getting your feelings hurt when they do; be courteous and spread a little green joy next time you go out to eat. TIPPING CULTURE IN AMERICA Compared to other countries, Americans tip far more...