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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

General education classes are pointless

General education classes are pointless

By Cody Laplante | February 20, 2013

COMS 100, ENGL 103, MATH 109: the dreaded courses first assigned to every freshman entering the gates of NIU. I think it is safe to assume there is not a single person on this campus that has not once thought something along the lines of, “Why do I...

General education classes are needed

General education classes are needed

By Hayley Devitt | February 20, 2013

General education courses are essential in making well-rounded adults of us all. I mean, there are many relevant things to be learned in all general disciplines, and it will be important in the workplace to be able to view a situation from varying perspectives....

Mississippi's forgetful mistake is embarassing

Mississippi’s forgetful mistake is embarassing

By Danny Cozzi | February 20, 2013

I’m not worried about having bad days anymore. Most of the issues I face daily are a result of my bad memory. Whether I forget to turn in an assignment for a class, lose my cellphone or just can’t remember what my student email password is, I’ll...

Smart meters are a threat to customers privacy

By Holly New | February 19, 2013

The decision to use smart meters may not be as smart as you think. Smart meters are, as defined by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), “electric meters with enhanced communication capabilities.... These meters use two-way communication...

Doodling can be useful

Doodling can be useful

By Hayley Devitt | February 19, 2013

If you had an unhappy childhood, it was probably due to a teacher in grade school who made you feel lousy and embarrassed for doodling in class. Well, there may be other reasons. Nonetheless it is time to break the cycle of guilt. If you still doodle...

Illiniois should take care of teachers' pensions

Illiniois should take care of teachers’ pensions

By AJ Edwards | February 18, 2013

Each time they receive their paycheck, the teachers of Illinois contribute 9.4 percent of their pay toward their pensions. And it turns out that for years the state of Illinois has somehow found a way to neglect paying its portion of the pension. The...

Choose a major you are passionate about

Choose a major you are passionate about

By Annastazia Camerena | February 18, 2013

Once you have entered your college career the million dollar question remains “What’s your major?” It’s the infamous icebreaker that you get asked from family, fellow students and faculty throughout your college years. Personally, I was sick of...

Dress for success if you want it

Dress for success if you want it

By Kim Randall | February 17, 2013

You know that old cliché about how you should dress for success if you want to get a job? That very well may be more true than not. Dressing for success is essentially adjusting your physical appearance (as it relates to grooming or clothing) to make...

College can be educational and fun, too

College can be educational and fun, too

By Cody Laplante | February 17, 2013

NIU: an institution of esteemed learning and scholarly pursuits where students with large minds work tirelessly towrad the larger goal of receiving a degree. This is the classic view of American higher education, and for many students that may be a reality....

InFocus: Valentine’s Day Plans

February 13, 2013

AJ Edwards Columnist I don’t think that Valentine’s Day is different from any other day. I don’t believe in going out of my way to give my wife a gift or take her to some expensive restaurant. To me, I think one should always treat that special...

Just be yourself, not a catfish

By Kimberly Randall | February 13, 2013

“She’s a catfish.” “You’ve been catfished.” You may be asking yourself the question: What is a catfish? Well, catfish is a nickname given to people who create fake profiles on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, pretending to be someone...

Budget cuts only disappoints Huskie Bus riders

Budget cuts only disappoints Huskie Bus riders

By Cody Laplante | February 12, 2013

We’ve all been there: at the bus stop, the wind blowing, the temperature dropping, the clock slowly showing that you are late for class and the bus is no where in sight. And when the bus does come, your relief is short-lived as you cram yourself between...