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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

Nick Cipra, a senior geology major, poses in a large paper mache horse head as BoJack Horseman for the Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest. Cipra's first time using paper mache was for the creation of this costume! (Courtesy of Nick Cipra)

BoJack Horseman costume wins Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | October 30, 2024

The spirits – our wonderful readers, that is – have convened and selected Nick Cipra’s BoJack Horseman costume as the winner of the Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest!  Voting for the Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest closed 5 p.m....

A man answers his door and asks "Dude... aren't you too old for trick-or-treating??" to a 22-year-old business major dressed up as Batman. Happy Halloween, Huskies! (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Grown-up trick-or-treating

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist | October 30, 2024

Ballots that read "Yes on City Clerk" float into a green ballot box. Former second ward alderman Bill Finucane encourages DeKalb voters to vote yes on City Clerk this election, which will change the City Clerk from an elected to an appointed position. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Express Yourself: Vote yes on City Clerk

By Bill Finucane | October 29, 2024

Editor’s note: Express Yourself opinion pieces are the author’s opinion alone. Both the City of DeKalb and the City of Sycamore are asking the same question:  “Shall the City Clerk be appointed, rather than elected?” Both cities are attempting...

A robot in a hat labeled "press" holds a newspaper in front of the Northern Star's red star logo, while a Huskie paw points accusatorily at the robot. The Northern Star will not publish any content created by artificial intelligence and encourages readers to review its AI policy. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Northern Star introduces its AI policy

By The Northern Star Editorial Board | October 29, 2024

As artificial intelligence becomes more prominent in everyone’s lives, the business of journalism has to navigate its use. The Northern Star Editorial Board has come together and decided readers should know our policies on AI and what services like...

Three contestants for the Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest pose in their costumes. Vote for your favorite costume before the spooky ballot closes at 5 p.m. Oct. 30! (Photos courtesy of Tiajuana Hernandez, Jacob Chupich and Nick Cipra)

Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest: Vote now!

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | October 29, 2024

It’s one day out from All Hallows’ Eve, Huskies! Get into the spirit early – pun intended – and vote for the best costume in the Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest here.  The Northern Star Halloween Costume Contest submissions are listed...

Olivia King, a junior marketing major, responds to a street interviews prompt. In three words, how are you feeling about the presidential election next week? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: 2024 election

By Jackson Shields, Assistant Opinion Editor | October 28, 2024

We are officially one week out from the 2024 presidential election – which could be the most important one of our lifetime – and things couldn’t be more uncertain. The polls are close, public sentiment is divided, and the line between hope and...

Shopping bags, a ghost holding a trick-or-treat bag, and craft supplies sit beneath the words “Look Both Ways” and above the topic of the week. Is it better to wear store-bought or homemade Halloween costumes to celebrate All Hallows’ Eve? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Store-bought versus homemade Halloween costumes

By Ethan Ernst and Lalita Rai | October 28, 2024

STORE-BOUGHT COSTUMES By: Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist An iconic part of Halloween is the costumes people wear. Monsters, fictional characters or professions that children may be interested in are common options found in stores. Many people...

Blood with a low battery symbol drips behind a salt shaker labeled “Boundaries” and a garlic head labeled “self-love.” Energy vampires might not seem as threatening as Nosferatu, but it’s important to to prevent the energy vampires in your life from draining you too often. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Don’t let the energy vampires get you

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor | October 27, 2024

Most people don’t have to worry about blood-sucking vampires threatening their well-being – let’s hope – but we’ve all faced a foe arguably more terrifying. As you prepare your home for the arrival of ghosts and goblins this week, make it your...

Northern lights dance red and purple in the night DeKalb sky. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko gained a new appreciation for DeKalb’s small town beauty when the aurora borealis visited, a phenomenon she’d expected to witness in Iceland. (Sofia Didenko | Northern Star)

Chasing northern lights

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist | October 24, 2024

In 2018 my mother booked a trip for herself, my sister and myself to the mysterious country of Iceland. Going in winter, we were unsure if the conditions would be tolerable. But we had grown up skiing, and my sister and I had tons of winter layers to...

Grimm the Goblin, a green creature with yellow eyes and a spiny back, crouches on clawed feet. Grimm waits patiently for his chance to terrorize on Halloween next week. (Aidan Renteria | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Grimm the Goblin

By Aidan Renteria, Cartoonist | October 24, 2024

A table in the Founders Memorial Library displays Safe Passage items and information. Opinion Columnist Lalita Rai encourages all cultures, religions and societies to abandon the dangerous ideology that women should remain in every marriage, even abusive ones. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Love should never be violent

By Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist | October 23, 2024

A Nepali woman is suspected to have been killed by her partner in Virginia. Mamta Kafle Bhatt has been missing since July. She was living with her husband and a 1-year-old daughter. She was a licensed nurse and well-educated.   Her husband Naresh...

Five segments display different planets and symbols associated with them, all surrounding a tiny astronaut reading a book. If you had to take a remote class in outer space, which planet would you choose to study on? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Poll: Remote learning in space

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | October 23, 2024

“Star Trek” has popularized the idea that space is the “final frontier” for human expansion, and people like Elon Musk aim to make this a reality. Yet human colonists on other planets will still need to learn, and we already have the means for...