There are a number of colleges that employ a trimester schedule as opposed to the semester schedule (which NIU uses). While some people may want to switch, I don't see any benefit that would come from it.Knox College in Galesburg, IL uses a trimester...
Some students think that general education classes should not be required because they are not relevant to their majors, but these classes are important in creating well-rounded students.David Gorman, associate professor of English, said general education...
General education courses should not be required for college students. For many, they are a waste of time and money that could be better spent elsewhere.Students should not be forced to take classes that cover materials they have already been familiar...
Animal rights activists are often concerned with the conditions of animals undergoing experimentation for medical research. That concern, while understandable, often comes with demands to put an end to animal testing. However, as long as the only alternative...
When there is a debate about whether testing drugs on animals is ethical, one of the main arguments proponents use is that it has helped alleviate the suffering of people through the medical advances made in testing labs. That is not the case at all....
"Life is good," "Life sucks," pictures of people passed out, pictures of you eating an ice cream cone, pictures of you hiding behind some creepy guy to point at him and ironically tag him later as being creepy, links to Lil B's "Wonton Soup," joining...
Maybe you are into whips and chains or maybe you are into smoking weed. That's fine; that is your choice. But posting pictures on social networks of you smoking out of a bong is not a very responsible thing to do. A certain level of common sense is needed...
If my picture was removed from this column, would you know I was African-American simply from the name, Taurean? Surely you would think I was black if my name was DeShawn. According to the book Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side...
No matter how futile treatment may prove to be, no matter how expensive it may be or how much stress a relative's terminal illness may put on my family, they should fight until the end.Ending your life by choice, for any reason, completely contradicts...
As the holiday season approaches and the year comes to a close, it is time to start making our shopping lists and deciding who has been naughty and who has been nice. For this week's "In Focus," various Northern Star columnists assess America's performance...
As a culture, we like to think that every year is a new opportunity to start fresh. Whether it's trying to lose weight, quit smoking, or be better people overall, as soon as the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, 2011, we make a resolution to improve our...
NIU's idea for a new residence hall could possibly bring a lot to the campus. The dorm's semi-suite style rooms, along with individual rooms, could be a new attraction to students and bring a new look to the campus as a whole. I spoke with Michael Stang,...
