Laugh tracks need to be done away with. They are obnoxious, annoying and if you need to be told where the punchline of a joke was, then it was a bad joke. However, there is a scientific purpose for using them. Those in communication studies refer to it...
Six to eight times more retirements this year than in any other, $85 billion in unfunded liability, 50th out of all the U.S. states in adequate financing - this is what Illinois’ government has done to the pension system. Gov. Pat Quinn discussed the...
I’ve never had a real spring break vacation. At least, not the ones you see on MTV where everyone is topless and drunk on a beach. For my last semester of college, I decided to throw caution (and all my money) to the wind and spent a week on the beaches...
When the announcement of DAYGLOW’s cancellation hit the NIU community, Facebook lit up. Just two days before the sold-out event was scheduled to take place, NIU’s administration pulled the plug on the “world’s largest paint party,” citing issues...
Linze Griebenow: Pro censorship advocates and anti porn advocates are two birds of a feather. Here’s why: It’s a common misconception that anti pornography feminists are pro censorship. I would argue, rather, that censorship is a greater threat to...
First year students and seniors, speak up. What makes college life great is autonomy, self-reliance and ability to find your identity and your voice. Many first year students and even seniors are missing out on the ability to make their voices heard and...
Last week, a good friend of mine cried into my chest for 20 minutes outside DuSable Hall. She is one of the hardest working, strongest and most self-sufficient women I’ve ever met. Truthfully, I didn’t think she could cry. She pays her rent, tuition...
Good news everyone, our college education will pay off after all. With the recession and listening to the GOP debates I thought the best job my degree would earn me would be hamburger flipper. However, after reading the 41st edition of Recruiting Trends,...
NIU athletics is adamant on stressing the importance of its student athletes. Beyond being athletes in their respective sports, they’re students in our university’s classrooms. Some athletes come to NIU on a scholarship to continue their athletic...
Lying on the beach in Cancun is out; laying the foundation for a Habitat for Humanity home is in. Next week, four small groups of NIU students will travel to locations all over the U.S. to volunteer with NIU’s Alternative Spring Break. In the last decade,...
There was much hullaballoo a few weeks ago about Google’s new privacy policy. While I’m glad there is concern about a company making changes to its privacy policy, I’m not sure it’s enough. In the social network industry, the primary product is,...
I’ve always been told to marry my one and only. I’m not by any means old enough to be married, but how will I find the person that makes me happiest? To be honest, I feel like both men and women are constantly on the lookout for someone they might...
