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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

NIU non-tenured English instructor Dan Libman, walks with a sign saying "NIU we miss you" during Wednesday's IFT and UPI informational picket outside of Altgeld Hall. Libman has been an instructor since 1998 and said he's never seen the university walk away from the bargaining table until this go around.The picket comes after university officials walked away from non-tenure negotiations and have refused to begin tenure contract negotiations. (Wes Sanderson | Northern Star)

Editorial: NIU walkout on negotiations impacts relations, student success

By Northern Star Editorial Board | April 21, 2022

Educators are the backbone of any university. They are faces students interact with often and have the most responsibility in teaching the next generation in the labor force. NIU’s tenure and non-tenure-track faculty are the faces that make up that...

A piggy bank is filled with coins. College students should support themselves without an allowance.

College students don’t need an allowance

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | April 19, 2022

Growing up, some of us had an allowance while others did not, or maybe we had one for a short period of time.  Whether you had one growing up or not, you shouldn’t be receiving one as a college student.  As a student, of course, you need help paying...

Sports Reporter Skyler Kisellus lost focus on the road, resulting in an accident.

That time I… kissed a semi-tractor trailer

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter | April 17, 2022

This is not a tale of mechanophilia. This is my personal reminder of why one mistake on the roadway can spell dire consequences. The day was March 24, 2021. I had been traveling from a family member’s home to my own residence. Part of my journey...

Reality Bytes is an independent student film festival at NIU.

Embrace, support film festivals

By Parker Otto | April 17, 2022

This past week, I got to attend the Reality Bytes Independent Student Film Festival and was absolutely mesmerized by the films being made by students. As a filmmaker, I feel jealous of their work, but inspired to make stories of my own. But as Reality...

Whether the options are there or not, when faced with the average time and money constraints of an average student, sustainable living is not affordable.

Going green as a college student is not affordable

By Ally Formeller, News Reporter | April 17, 2022

For Gen Z, climate change and being eco-friendly are understandably important issues, but going green is simply too expensive for most college students.  The average budget of a college student likely isn’t very high ― I know mine isn’t.  Despite...

Northern Illinois University’s theater department is only offered to those wanting to dedicate their major or minor to the subject; it is not open to all students. 

Theater should be extracurricular for non-majors

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | April 11, 2022

The art of performance is beautiful and enjoyable. Many students love the feeling of joining a like-minded community and stepping on the stage, personifying a character.  However, Northern Illinois University’s theater department is only offered to...

The United States needs to pursue greater energy independence and the best way to do that is by pursuing nuclear energy as a primary source of power. 

Nuclear energy: A better source of power

By Parker Otto | April 11, 2022

With gas prices being consistently above $4 per gallon, there is a desire to find a more consistent kind of energy. A source of power that won’t be as affected by global politics. The United States needs to pursue greater energy independence and the...

If there’s one thing the bottle bill proves, it’s that economic incentives are the key to improving the environment. 

Environment would benefit from Illinois bottle bill

By Parker Otto | April 10, 2022

When I went to Michigan with some buddies on spring break, I was amazed to discover that so many people in the state care about recycling. During the break, my friends and I filled several bags with plastic bottles, aluminum cans and glass bottles and...

An American flag at the Barsema Alumni and Visitor's Center on Nov. 3.

US can be self-sufficient without Russia

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | April 8, 2022

The past month has been unpredictable with everyone's eyes glued to the news to see what Russia will do next and what the rest of the world is going to do about it.  Our first instinct was to throw sanction after sanction at Russia. One of the heaviest...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the Parental Rights in Education bill at Classical Preparatory school Monday, March 28, 2022 in Shady Hills, Fla. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is a step back for LGBTQ+ rights

By Ally Formeller, News Reporter | April 8, 2022

In late March, Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The bill will effectively ban teachers from holding any lessons about gender identity and sexual orientation, according to NPR. The bill explicitly prohibits instructors...

Sex is more than a science. It’s an intimate and fun activity. However, under the guise of abstinence-only sex ed,  sex is not taught to be celebrated unless with one’s marital spouse.

Students need comprehensive sexual education

By Derek Bos, Opinion Columnist | April 6, 2022

How do you know if you have full consent? Is it an STD or an STI? Could you really tell if you’re in a toxic relationship? If you graduated from a public school system, there’s a good chance you learned these answers outside of class.  Public...

While audiobooks can be nice, they take away from the full experience of sitting down to relax with a nice book.

Audiobooks can’t compare to physical copy

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Former Editor in Chief | April 6, 2022

Imagine a cloud-covered sky, a steady rain, and your warm bed. You reach over, picking up your favorite novel. The spine is worn from continuous use, but you can still remember the new book smell it had when you first held it.  The feeling of holding...