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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Two characters discuss the changes in weather. The characters discuss how climate change could potentially be the answer for why the temperature in weather is changing. (Kaylee Rutherford | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Crazy weather

By Kaylee Rutherford, Cartoonist | September 15, 2025

A ribbon with the words "Week 4" and a calendar with the words "Week 5" sit beneath the words “Look Both Ways” and above the topic of the day. Should businesses in the U.S. make the four-day work week the norm? (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: 4-day workweek

By Byrdie Seda and Kahlil Kambui | September 14, 2025

Supports four-day workweek By: Byrdie Seda, Opinion Columnist Burnout is a common and real thing that often stems from being overworked and overstimulated. Many people become depressed from the rough routine of their life, feeling as if they have...

A photo depicts a person holding a sign that says "Stop starving Gaza's children" on Sept. 5 while people walk across the street in Washington, D.C. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst argues that too many innocent people will die if Israel goes all in on destroying Hamas. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Opinion: War does not bring peace

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | September 14, 2025

Bombs are pounding Gaza as Israel goes all-in on destroying Hamas once and for all. Hamas is on the backfoot, but Israel will not find the success it hopes for. Israel has hardly been secretive about its desire for a total victory over Hamas. The first...

U.S. President Donald Trump adjusts a hat that says USA on it on June 24 as he disembarks Air Force One. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti argues that Trump's tactics to bring jobs in the U.S has failed American workers. (Reuters | Brian Snyder)

Opinion: Trump’s tactics fail American workers

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | September 11, 2025

Despite measures by the current administration to recover "American jobs" from foreign lands, policies have again proved ineffective against unemployment figures. These figures may rise or fall, but the unemployment rate does not normally exceed the rate...

A tidy classroom sits empty. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst argues that in order to improve attendance rates in classes, students should be motivated to show up to classes, instead of having attendance be mandatory. (Getty Images)

Opinion: Attendance in college should not be mandatory

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Column | September 11, 2025

Attending class is naturally associated with doing well in class. However, to improve attendance rates, students should be motivated to show up, rather than have attendance be mandatory. Currently, attendance is not mandatory across NIU as a whole....

A photo depicts a hospital bed and medical equipment nearby the hospital bed. Opinion Columnist Habiba Kamel argues that people with terminal illnesses should have the option of assisted suicide. (Getty Images)

Opinion: Assisted suicide or murder?

By Habiba Kamel, Opinion Columnist | September 10, 2025

In the U.S. alone, more than 13 million people live with a terminal or serious illness, according to the Center to Advance Palliative Care. The effects of such illnesses take a great toll on a patient’s mental and physical health, as symptoms range...

A photo depicts President Donald Trump at an event on Monday at the Museum of the Bible to deliver remarks to the White House Religious Liberty Commission. Opinion Columnist Lucy Atkinson argues that guns should be banned for everyone, not just transgender people. (Reuters | Evelyn Hockstein)

Opinion: Trump’s gun plan prioritizes trans community over real solutions

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Columnist | September 10, 2025

Wow, Mr. President, you’ve really done the impossible. Never did I imagine I’d agree with a group like the National Rifle Association.  Perpetually terrified of losing loved ones to preventable tragedies, I never thought I could be on the same...

A photo depicts President Donald Trump speaking on Friday during a dinner for lawmakers on the newly renovated Rose Garden patio, at the White House. Opinion Columnist Gabe Santos argues that when death hoaxes of President Trump swarmed the internet, it was met with hope and not mourning. (Reuters | Brian Snyder)

Opinion: Mourning in advance

By Gabriel Santos, Opinion Columnist | September 9, 2025

On Labor Day weekend, photos of President Donald Trump looking worse-for-wear, taken by Andrew Caballero-Reynolds for Getty Images, hit the internet. Soon after, the White House and Trump himself went all but silent, prompting rumors to hit the internet...

A cartoon depicts a bird flying in the sky through a city. Opinion Columnist Lucy Atkinson argues that big companies should do more such as adding bird-safe film in order to prevent bird deaths. (Kaylee Rutherford | Northern Star)

Opinion: Avian fall migrations shouldn’t be deadly

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Columnist | September 9, 2025

September and October are months of movement for many in the avian kingdom. Songbirds and waterfowl, colorful feathers and beige plumage, huge flocks and solitary travelers all pass overhead in one of nature’s most fascinating traditions. It’s people...

President Donald Trump walks from the White House to the Trump National Golf Club on May 22 in Washington D.C., Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti argues that everything the Trump Administration has done over the summer has been a failure. (Reuters | Evelyn Hockstein

Opinion: Trump’s summer agenda culminated in failure

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | September 8, 2025

The last few months have been turbulent for national and international politics. Despite the intense efforts of government propaganda and private channels aligned with the Trump administration, such as Fox News, there have been several undeniable failures. Let’s...

A 2024 political map of Ukraine showing the regions it has lost to Russia, Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst argues that Negotiations will not stop the war between Ukraine and Russia, and that the indecision of Ukraine allies is costing Ukrainian lives. (Getty Images)

Opinion: Negotiation will not stop the Ukraine War

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | September 8, 2025

Three years after it began, it now seems a “swift” end to the war in Ukraine is only possible through negotiation. Unfortunately, what both sides demand for peace cannot be given, so Ukraine’s allies must continue providing weapons to prevent a...

Two wedding bands sit overlapped on one another on a pride flag. Opinion Columnist Habiba Kamel believes that states across the U.S. should protect the right of marriage between same-sex couples. (Getty Images

Opinion: States across the U.S. should protect the right of same-sex marriage

By Habiba Kamel, Opinion Columnist | September 7, 2025

Just 10 years ago, the Supreme Court made a life-changing decision that would give millions of Americans the right to marry whomever they would like. On June 26, 2015, in a 5-4 decision, the court ruled in favor of Obergefell v. Hodges, which requires...

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