Pass: Castle Challenge unites school rivalsWhen rival high school sport teams clash, game nights are usually full of aggressive chanting and smack talk from spectators.But, the Castle Challenge, a fundraiser started by Castle Bank, “was created to increase...
NIU’s calendar site is supposed to be a tool for exposing people to organizations, promoting diversity among groups, but those groups aren’t using it enough.NIU features a calendar, calendar.niu.edu, to inform students of campus activities. But, not...
The Computing Facilities Advisory Committee and Chief information Officer Brett Coryell needs to set deadlines for revising the language in NIU’s Acceptable Use Policy.The university’s Acceptable Use Policy enforces use of NIU’s Internet network...
Pass: University’s Anywhere Printing a godsendI’m grateful I don’t have to participate in “the waiting game” anymore. The objective of the game was simple: be the first one to the printer.Before Anywhere Printing, all university computers were...
Pass: Autumn gardens give me fall fuzzinessThere is no excuse for students to live off of Ramen noodles for their entire college careers.One of the best parts of the changing weather is waiting for fresh local produce to change from summer to fall selections....
Although you didn’t have a say in the brain you were born with, you can certainly impact how well it functions.With exams kicking back into gear and midterms looming, maximizing your brainpower is a necessity. Unfortunately, medical professionals have...
Requiring students to know the Bicycle Rules of the Road before renting a bike is an integral part of NIU’s outstanding bike-share course on Blackboard.Bikes are available to rent to any student who passed the Blackboard safety quiz with 100 percent....
In the wake of declining enrollment, it is time NIU informs the community of a clear plan to attract and retain students.One of the main purposes of NIU President Doug Baker’s Master Plan Thesis is to increase enrollment and retention. The project has...
I spotted an unfortunate squirrel near the creek by the Neptune Hall wearing the upper lid of a McFlurry cup around its neck this previous summer.NIU has a rich culture full of student organizations that work toward preventing environmental degradation...
For some students, homework is a piece of cake; for others, submitting weekly assignments is a repetitive, frustrating and problematic cycle.Homework should be assigned on a monthly basis, especially if the coursework requires extra reading and research....
NIU could do with more transparency if it wishes to meet President Doug Baker’s goal of providing ethically inspired leadership.Baker’s administration has made strides in transparency by announcing personnel changes among the president’s cabinet...
NIU’s plan to make traveling across campus easier is progressing through changes to the university’s mass transit system, especially for cyclists.The large bike lanes on the sidewalks along Lucinda Avenue are impossible to miss and are new this fall....
