Every so often, when the reality of life as a college student becomes blurred by overwork and stress, and all seems hopelessly lost, one of my roommates has the knack of reminding me why I'm here. It began one night when all of us were lying around not...

I just spent two of the most nerve-wracking hours of my life. No, they weren't spent trying to pay for copies at any of the copy centers on campus. They were spent at Stateville Prison outside Joliet. Yes, Stateville Prison which, now that I think about...

Take charge of your eating habits! The foods you eat today can endanger your heart or protect it, and "what you chew" may also protect you against certain types of cancer. By eating a low-fat diet, including foods rich in vitamins A, C, and beta-carotene...

Upon reading the Mar. 1 Northern Star, I was disheartened to see the pessimistic views of Ms. Price and Mr. Pierce. If you don't like it here, leave! There are many students like myself who are proud to attend this school. NIU has so much to offer; I'm...

Barbara Larson is cleverly deceptive in her outrageous letter of Feb. 24 when she states "Even prominent national physicians have found ingredients in meat that promote a stronger heart and healthier life." The problem with that is those who eat meat...

Your headline, "Proposed smoking policy dismays staff" (Mar.3) suggests opposition to a "no-smoking" policy is widespread. In fact, it is not. Ms. Strink, president of the operating staff council, who is cited in your article, has already registered the...

Uphill battles can be won only if those in the fight form a bond and work together to accomplish their goals. As long as the group understands and can handle the obstacles it faces, it stands a good chance of success. This is the very situation facing...

This letter is in response to Jim Wozniak's column entitled "Racism doesn't explain the failures of black leaders," featured in the Star on Tues., Feb. 23. In this column, Wozniak makes very weak attempts to address two issues: 1) incidents of racism...

Spring has come; the first robins have returned, Big Mac cartons bob in Watson Creek, and old issues of the Northern Star lie in campus shrubs. Only the university can clean up the current eyesore, but we can clean up after ourselves in the future. The...

Editor's note: The following is a reprint/correction of a letter printed Mon., March 7. Regarding the letter, "Vigil Hypocritical" (from Kevin Nolan in the Mon., Feb. 29 Northern Star), as a participant (in the College Republican's vigil to protest Soviet...

It wasn't supposed to end this way. Playing its final game of the season, the NIU men's basketball team dropped an 87-81 decision to Eastern Illinois before 2,363 at Chick Evans Field House Monday night. EIU upped its season record to 17-11 while the...

I was astonished by Dan Moran's column of Feb. 19. I was in shock that such a childish article would be printed in a college newspaper. It's as though Mr. Moran just pulled Julie Stege's hair on the playground and is now yelling, "NAH! NAH!, You can't...