Starting my junior year here at NIU was not what I hoped it would be. Classes were all online, so exploring campus seemed awkward, and I didn’t know where I was going anyway. I was excited to meet new people, but everyone kept to themselves— making...

We are finally in the month of November, which means Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. For many in-state NIU students, Thanksgiving is a time to visit home and have dinner with their families. However, for out-of-state NIU students, it's time to figure...

After Halloween, we anticipate the November holidays, such as Thanksgiving. However, every year on Nov. 1, grocery stores, retail stores, malls, etc. immediately transition from Halloween-themed decor to Christmas, and I find it to be annoying. Nothing...

Nearly 14 months removed from the news headlines, the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse has made national headlines once more as news surfaced that Rittenhouse’s defense team successfully argued that prosecutors cannot refer to the three people who were shot...

The Build Back Better Act has been through many changes as Democrats negotiate for what goes in it. One element of the act that has been ruthlessly butchered is maternity leave. But this mutilation of a vital element of the bill should not stand. Maternity...

As the 2022 midterms approach, Democrats have the fight of their lives ahead. The party may have the presidency for the next three years, but their legislative control barely exists. With just a three-seat lead in the House of Representatives and Vice...

In Fall 2019, I decided to move from El Paso, Texas, to Algonquin, Illinois. I am originally from Georgia, but at the time, I had been living in Texas for over two and a half years. I was enrolled at the University of Texas at El Paso, where I was taking...

As Halloween approaches, you may find yourself browsing various streaming services for a good horror movie. If you happen upon the movies on this list, I urge you  not to watch them. Beware: Here’s a list of five bad horror movies. 1. The Human...

Every October, millions of Americans spend Halloween night watching horror movies. Dozens of spooky, Halloween-themed films play on TV throughout the month.  But Halloween doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, watching cute and festive Halloween movies...

One of the hardest losses is that of a pet. In August, my 12-year-old dog Chloe died. Chloe was there from the time I was eight and her death left a massive hole in my life. For the next few weeks, I would look for her when I’d come home only to realize...

As a student, a good work-life balance seems almost nonexistent.  In the next week, I have two exams and three assignments due, on top of having to read multiple textbook chapters. My Google Calendar chimes, reminding me of yet another task I have...

When journalist Katie Couric edited out controversial quotes made by late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during a 2016 interview, Couric did a disservice to Americans by wanting to “protect” Ginsburg rather than carry out her duty as a...