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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 clinician uses a syringe to inject a  COVD-19 vaccine into a patient.

Editorial: NIU’s soft approach for vaccinations disappoints

By Northern Star Editorial Board | September 1, 2021

Last week, the university announced that students who received a personal exemption while COVID-19 vaccinations were under Emergency Use Authorization status are now required to get vaccinated – but they have until Nov. 1 to do so.  The lax three-month...

Molly Holmes, director of the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center emphasized the importance of learning about and supporting trans identities and the experiences of trans people as a part of the NIU community. 

Editorial: Transgender athletes deserve equality

By Northern Star Editorial Board | August 26, 2021

The Canadian Women’s Soccer team didn’t just make history by claiming their first-ever Olympic gold medal defeating Sweden in a shootout on Aug. 6. One athlete, Canada’s starting midfielder, solidified their Olympic history. Their name is Quinn,...

Attorney General Merrick Garland (left) listens to a presentation with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., center, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, while visiting the Chicago Police Department Strategic Decision Support Center in Chicago, Thursday, July 22, 2021. Lightfoot had asked for the federal government's help in curbing Chicago’s rising numbers of gun related crimes in the city. (Samuel Corum/Pool via AP)

Editorial: Lightfoot anti-violence plan shows promise

By Northern Star Editorial Board | August 5, 2021

In a year that has already brought so much pain and suffering to the American people due to COVID-19, the last thing the country needs is another crisis taking the lives of innocent people. Unfortunately, that is exactly what the U.S. has on its hands....

NIU will require COVID-19 vaccines for on-campus students.

Editorial: NIU’s differences in vaccination policies explained

By Northern Star Editorial Board | July 11, 2021

NIU notified its students on June 23 that vaccines for COVID-19 are mandatory for students to attend in-person classes. However, university employees are not required but are “strongly encouraged” to get vaccinated against COVID-19. While it may initially...

NIU President Lisa Freeman earned a 94% on her 2021 performance evaluation during Monday's Board of Trustees meeting. (Patrick Murphy | Northern Star)

Editorial: Freeman’s future NIU goals encouraging

By Northern Star Editorial Board | April 28, 2021

The Northern Star Editorial Board sat down with NIU President Lisa Freeman April 19 to discuss a variety of topics, including what the future looked like for Freeman and NIU in her new contract.  The job of the university is to provide a positive...

A police car has its lights  on at a busy road at night.

Editorial: Know, exercise rights with police

By Northern Star Editorial Board | April 21, 2021

Criminal justice reform continues to be a contested issue in the wake of officer Derek Chauvin’s trial following Daunte Wright’s fatal shooting in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Despite these repeated calls for reform, only 46% of Americans think the...

A pile of Northern Star newspapers is scattered.

Editorial: Media literacy crucial to reading online

By Northern Star Editorial Board | April 14, 2021

News media continues to move their content online, a place where information is readily available regardless of whether it’s true. In the wake of a digital news era, disbelief and trust in the news have fluctuated. The Northern Star Editorial Board...

Photo illustration of student looking over transcripts.

Editorial: Let students decide grading system

By Northern Star Editorial Board | April 7, 2021

The termination of spring break, in exchange for two days off, was not an entire student body decision and has driven students to a new level of burnout out this semester. The Northern Star Editorial Board believes the university needs to incorporate...

Illustration of crowd of men and women facing different ways.

Editorial: Morris, Barnes miss diversity in platforms

By Northern Star Editorial Board | March 30, 2021

 Election Day of the DeKalb consolidated election is April 6, and this year DeKalb has two candidates running for Mayor: Carolyn Morris and Cohen Barnes. With the election less than two weeks away, the Northern Star Editorial Board would like to offer...

David Byrd will become the city’s first Black police chief in its 135-year history.

Editorial: Police chief announced, continue including community

By Northern Star Editorial Board | March 17, 2021

On March 8, DeKalb named Illinois State Police Col. David Byrd DeKalb’s police chief, making him the first Black man to ever hold the position in DeKalb’s 135 year-long history.  The Northern Star Editorial Board is excited to see a needed change...

Senior Northern Star Sports Editor Jarrett Huff listens during an editorial board meeting on Tuesday January 27.

Editorial: Year review as students in pandemic

By Northern Star Editorial Board | March 9, 2021

On March 9, 2020, the world as we knew it stopped. This was the date that some say was the official start of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. As college students, we have a very unique perspective that no other age group has. We are coming into our...

With the transition to in-person learning on the horizon, continuing to provide virtual classes will make learning more accessible for students.

Editorial: Continue virtual learning after pandemic

By Northern Star Editorial Board | March 2, 2021

Once classes resume in-person, the Northern Star Editorial Board thinks students should still be able to attend class virtually if they are unable to attend class in person. We suggest a Zoom or virtual class being set up alongside the regular in-class...