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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 person hands a card to a person in a lab coat holding a plastic bag. Senior Opinion Columnist Emily Beebe believes a marijuana dispensary is a good addition to DeKalb. (Juniperimages | Getty Images)

A dispensary good edition to DeKalb

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | December 1, 2023

A car with tinted windows pulls up to a house with a caved-in roof and chipped paint. A person gets out of the car, goes up to the mailbox and retrieves a bag of weed from the mailbox. The person puts an envelope with money into the mailbox. Another day,...

A hand drops a coin in a blue piggybank next to a graduation cap. Opinion Columnist Lexi Nebel believes NIU’s request for $116.4 million in state funding is reasonable. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Illinois universities deserve better funding

By Lexi Nebel, Opinion Columnist | December 1, 2023

On Nov. 9 at a Board of Trustees Meeting, NIU requested $116.4 million in state funding.  While this number may seem shocking, it’s actually an appropriate amount considering NIU’s $32 million deficit and the rising cost of operating expenses...

A graphic shows two images of Sexiest Man Alive award winner Patrick Dempsey. Opinion Columnist Olivia Zapf interviewed students about whether they find Dempsey sexy. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

Street interviews: Patrick Dempsey, hot or not?

By Olivia Zapf, Editor in Chief | November 30, 2023

There is no doubt that Patrick Dempsey holds a place in the hearts of many “Grey’s Anatomy” fans. From his role as McDreamy in the hospital drama to his role as a sheriff in the 2023 movie “Thanksgiving,” Dempsey has proven to be a versatile...

Four people watch a movie with disappointed expressions. Senior Opinion Columnist Emily Beebe believes live-action remakes are not up to par with animated classics. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Stop releasing live-action remakes

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | November 29, 2023

Live-action remakes have taken over theaters in recent years with movies such as “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin.” Although live-action films can be fun to watch, the overabundance of them needs to end.  Filmmakers should...

An illustrated hand types on a smartphone as social media likes, comments and other alerts emerge from the screen. Opinion Columnist Kahlil Kambui believes people should avoid oversharing online. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Don’t overshare online

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor | November 29, 2023

You just turned 21, and you wanted to share your birthday dinner online with some of your followers. Perhaps you made a new account and decided to share your full name. This seems harmless enough, but it’s not. We live in a generation where social...

From left: Aaliyah, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey and Brandy form a collage. Who is your favorite ’90s female R&B singer? (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons (left), Tony Felgueiras, Pickpik, and Colson Griffith, The Cosmopolitan)

Poll: Who is your favorite ’90s female R&B singer?

By Lexi Nebel, Opinion Columnist | November 28, 2023

The 1990s and early 2000s saw the rise of some of the most iconic and game-changing female R&B voices in music history, inspiring some of the newer artists loved today.  With powerhouse vocals and unique lyrical skills, these women changed the...

A hand scratches out the Facebook logo on a smartphone with a digital pen. Senior Opinion Columnist Emily Beebe believes social media platforms infringe on the freedom of speech when they limit what users can post. (Thought Catalog | Pexels)

Freedom of speech should extend to social media

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | November 28, 2023

Freedom of speech should extend to social media, so individuals can express their ideas freely on various platforms. Facebook, X – formerly known as Twitter – and Instagram have connected people over continents. Today, social media isn’t a place...

A skeleton stands surrounded by smoke. Opinion Columnist Jescenia Calderon believes vapes and e-cigarettes' should be illegal. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

Vaping should be illegal

By Jescenia Calderon, Opinion Columnist | November 27, 2023

The health and addiction risks of vaping are dangerous enough that vapes and e-cigarettes should be illegal.  Some flavorings of vape include diacetyl, a chemical that leads to bronchiolitis obliterans, or popcorn lung, according to Illinois Department...

Mission II stands in a field of grass in 2021. Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones thanks Mission II for his service and bids him a farewell. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Farewell, Mission II

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist | November 27, 2023

NIU’s mascot Mission II has retired.  The NIU community is saddened by the announcement made Nov. 14 during the NIU football game against Western Michigan University. After three years of service, the Huskie is stepping down due to skin allergies,...

A group of students gather outside an SGA meeting. The Northern Star Editorial Board is disappointed that the SGA would let another petition, aimed as helping students, fail. (Eleanor Gentry | Northern Star)

SGA disappoints by failing another petition

By Northern Star Editorial Board | November 26, 2023

NIU’s Student Government Association has failed students again by overthinking approval of another petition.  The SGA now has two failed petitions, proving its failure to help students.  A petition is the SGA’s highest form of authority; and...

Mike Johnson (left) walks with former President Donald Trump, who is wearing a red U.S.A. hat, on Aug. 30, 2020. Senior Opinion Columnist Emily Beebe believes Johnson’s far-right ideologies make him a dangerous speaker. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Mike Johnson should not be House Speaker

By Emily Beebe, News Editor | November 26, 2023

Mike Johnson, the recently elected House Speaker, is yet again another example of failure in politics.  Johnson’s conservative stances on issues like same-sex marriage and abortion are concerning and detrimental to true progress. Elected officials...