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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

Vinyl records and turntables take the experience of listening to music to a whole new level.

Vinyl records are a musical lifestyle

By Parker Otto | January 13, 2022
Listening to a vinyl record is something else. You can’t mix up the order and it’s not portable. You have to make a conscious effort to put on an album and listen to it. Just listen and let your imagination take you places.
J.K. Rowling's history of controversial tweets has led "Harry Potter" fans questioning the franchise.

Art should be separated from the artist

By Parker Otto | January 10, 2022
J.K. Rowling may be one of the defining authors of my childhood, but I detest the comments she has made invalidating transgender people. But why should art suffer? It’s still the same art, after all, and as long as it doesn’t contain anything that condones the actions of the artist, I see no reason why this art shouldn’t be celebrated.
Books are a valuable asset to our culture.

Public schools must extinguish book burning

By Parker Otto | January 5, 2022
You are not trying to protect your children, you are trying to take away knowledge and art and, in the process, discriminate against literature that shows the experiences of minorities. If anything, banning these books will only make young people more desperate to seek them out. 
Columnists look forward to 2022 by making their New Year's resolutions.

Fill in the blank: My New Year’s resolution is . . .

By Opinion Staff, Parker Otto, and Summer Fitzgerald | December 31, 2021

… be more of service  Parker Otto | Columnist I’ve always been willing to take the time to give back to my community. However, during college and the pandemic, I have found myself regressing into my studies and focusing on my career. But I...

Thank you, Karens.

Thank you, Karens

By Parker Otto | December 28, 2021
Thank you for being the reason why retail workers dread their jobs and for being the reason food service workers hate making your meal.
SHEIN, an online store, has recently become a main source of fast fashion as it is heavily promoted across social media platforms through "SHEIN Hauls".

Fast fashion is harmful to both environment and mental health

By Summer Fitzgerald | December 27, 2021
Fast fashion is an irresponsible industry that exploits consumers, workers and the environment. Even though it may all look glamorous on social media, it is not worth your money or mental health. 
Students walk through the pantry on Thursday, Sept. 30th, 2021.

That Time I…volunteered at a food pantry

By Parker Otto | December 21, 2021
Food pantries are a great way to give back to the community, especially around the holidays.
Christmas consists of many different traditions, especially putting up a Christmas tree.

There is no ‘War on Christmas’

By Parker Otto | December 18, 2021

With the holiday season upon us, there are many annual traditions Americans take part in. But one that is worthy of scorn is a bunch of egotistic schmucks proclaiming the existence of a war on Christmas. The idea behind this is that Christmas is being...

A calendar.

Trimesters may be better for students

By Ally Formeller, News Reporter | December 11, 2021

Finals week is one of the busiest, most stressful weeks of the semester. For me, final papers and exams are piling up with no break in between, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.  As finals week comes to a close, most students are probably...

A clapperboard next to a Santa hat.

Hallmark films are overrated

By Parker Otto | December 9, 2021

Every Christmas, I watch both classic and new films that embrace the spirit of the holidays. Films like “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Story” and “Die Hard” are always welcomed every December. However, there’s also a great number...

Students walk to class along Normal Road during a snow storm.

Tips to survive Midwestern winter

By Parker Otto | December 7, 2021

The past few weeks have been abnormally nice weatherwise. But, in the words of House Stark, winter is coming. The snow, the ice, the wind that feels like death when it blows across your face, there’s a Midwestern winter coming and it’s not going to...

A man stands outside with a gun strapped onto his back.

The rising danger of militias

By Parker Otto | December 6, 2021

After the verdict of the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse was announced, public opinion of the case has been divisive. Regardless of how you feel about the verdict, it’s clear that Americans have a problem with taking the law into their own hands. One of the...