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Express Yourself: A Northern Star project
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
Alberto Briones

Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist

Alberto Briones is a second-year MBA student, graduating in the spring of 2024. Alberto joined the Northern Star in the fall of 2023 as an opinion columnist. Alberto is a graduate assistant for the Huskie Service Scholars program. In his free time, Alberto enjoys watching horror movies and comedy shows, reading fantasy novels, gaming, hanging out with friends and long walks on the beach at sunset.

All content by Alberto Briones
Two students with pensive expressions study a professor with three stars above his head but only one star filled in. Students should consider Rate My Professor reviews when registering for new classes and contribute to the website to benefit future students. (Aidan Renteria | Northern Star)

Rate your professors

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
May 1, 2024
A little personified brain experiences different types of finals across four quadrants: final exams, final presentations, final projects and final papers. As you conquer these final hurdles before summer, which type of final do you prefer? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Poll: Which type of final do students prefer?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
April 30, 2024
A donkey and an elephant linked together by a yellow connection are snipped apart by a large pair of scissors. Given the meaningful values that are often linked to our political beliefs, it is OK to break ties with family and friends over politics. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star Graphic)

End ties over politics

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
April 21, 2024
Lilliana Campbell (left), a sophomore psychology major, and Adé Basurto, a junior communicative disorders major, respond to a street interviews prompt. What are your favorite food trucks? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: Food Trucks

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
April 19, 2024
A video surveillance camera and a school building rest under the words “Look Both Ways” and the topic of the week: Cameras in classrooms. Should there be cameras in classrooms? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Cameras in classrooms

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti and Alberto Briones
April 8, 2024
Four quadrants contain symbols from four famous forms of poetry: haiku, sonnet, acrostic and limerick. April is National Poetry Month, what type of poetry is best? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Poll: What type of poetry is best?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
April 2, 2024
A figure balances precariously on the word “FOMO,” struggling to maintain various words indicating involvement, student life and everyday battles, including “time management,” “stress,” “school,” “food,” and “future.” Students should push back against feelings of FOMO. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

No more FOMO

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
April 1, 2024
Eight fists raise toward a purple sky. Students should practice advocacy for political and social issues they care about. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Participate in student activism

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
March 19, 2024
The Spanish, French, Mandarin, German and Japanese translations for each language surround a black heart with a white pawprint. If you could learn another language, what would it be? (Northern Star Graphic)

Poll: If you could learn a second language, what would it be?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
March 5, 2024
A figure dressed in black, white, yellow and red regalia spreads their arms beneath a yellow wolf head inspired by the First Nations Native Alliance’s artwork. NIU should implement an Indigenous Resource Center as petitioned by the First Nations Native Alliance. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

NIU should approve Indigenous Resource Center

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
February 28, 2024
An angry individual kicks a printer while it displays "$$$" and requires money to function. Printing should be freely accessible for all students. (Gabriel Fiorini | Northern Star)

Student fees should cover printing

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
February 22, 2024
Delicious but lonely fries rest in a basket without any dipping sauces. What dipping sauce is best with french fries? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Poll: What dipping sauce is best with french fries?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
February 20, 2024
A phone with a pink heart is surrounded by floating white hearts beneath the words “Look Both Ways” and the topic of the week: Dating Apps. Are dating apps worth it? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Dating Apps

By Emily Beebe and Alberto Briones
February 14, 2024
A masculine hand reaches to take a rose held in the palm of another hand. Men should receive flowers as gifts just as women typically do. (Gabriel Fiorini | Northern Star)

Give men flowers

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
February 12, 2024
Lot C sits half full during morning classes on Friday. During peak times, Lot C parking spots are often scarce as commuters and professors share paid spaces at the center of campus, close to many of the liberal arts buildings. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU faculty parking should be free

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
February 6, 2024
Adult hands cradle baby feet beneath the words “Look Both Ways” and the topic of the week: raising kids. Are adults obligated to raise kids? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Raising kids

By Camilla Dziadosz and Alberto Briones
January 29, 2024
A figure clutches their wallet with tear-filled eyes as negative money signs float from it. All internships should be paid internships to support students. (Robin Gamboa | Northern Star)

All internships should be paid

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
January 28, 2024
Video Editor Joseph Howerton (left) asks Meika Bass, a freshman computer science major, about the best brands of water bottles. Which water bottle brand is best? (Quentin Brown | Northern Star)

Poll: Which water bottle brand is best?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
January 23, 2024
A ticking watch hangs in front of a computer screen opened to the Blackboard home page. Accelerated courses move at a quicker rate than some students expect. (Northern Star | Photo Illustration)

Accelerated courses are overrated

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
January 17, 2024
A human hand and an AI robot hand extend from computer screens to shake. AI offers unique learning opportunities for students and professors willing to incorporate AI in the classroom. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Implement AI in classrooms

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
January 15, 2024
Two people place food items in a box labeled “Donation.” Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones encourages people to donate to homeless shelters this winter. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Donate to local homeless shelters

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
December 6, 2023
A woman in a yellow sweater spreads her arms beneath a bright source of light. How do you de-stress during finals week? (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Poll: How do you de-stress during finals week?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
December 5, 2023
Mission II stands in a field of grass in 2021. Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones thanks Mission II for his service and bids him a farewell. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Farewell, Mission II

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
November 27, 2023
A graphic includes two people and kindness logos. Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones interviewed students about the late Matthew Perry. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

Matthew Perry remembered by students

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
November 16, 2023
A student in a blue hoodie sits awkwardly between three figures. Group projects are more trouble for students then what they're worth. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Group projects disappoint

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
November 15, 2023
A graphic includes two people and kindness logos. Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones interviewed students on what the kindest thing someone did for them lately. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

Street interviews: World Kindness Week

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
November 9, 2023
Drew Barrymore stands in a green dress. Barrymore faced undeserved backlash after attempting to bring her show back on the air in the amid the writers strike. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Drew Barrymore doesn’t deserve to be cancelled

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
November 5, 2023
A delivery drone hovers mid-air with green trees and brown buildings behind it. Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones believes Amazon’s drone delivery service comes with too many risks. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Amazon’s drone delivery is too risky

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
November 3, 2023
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. smiles for cameras in a gray suit and tie. Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones believes Kennedy’s independent candidacy could be dangerous for the 2024 presidential election. (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Kennedy’s independent campaign raises concern

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
November 2, 2023
A woman rubs her eyes as she sits a a library table covered in books. Professors should be more understanding toward students during midterm week. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Professors, please be lenient during midterms

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
October 17, 2023
A man with a pumpkin head holds a carton of popcorn. What's your favorite Halloween movie? (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Poll: What’s your favorite Halloween movie?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
October 10, 2023
From left: Taylor Swift, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman react during the first quarter of an NFL football game between the New York Jets and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J. Opinion Columnist Alberto Briones believes Swift is out of Kelce's league. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Taylor’s out of Kelce’s league

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
October 3, 2023
The Career Services office is visible through windows on the second level of the Peters Life Campus Building. Students should attend job fairs organized by Career Services to meet employers, present resumes and explore potential career paths. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Students should attend career fairs

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
October 2, 2023
An illustration of a driver's license for an individual whose organ donor status is, "No, because what if they harvest my organs rather than decide to save me?" An individual's organ donor status will not impact the care received from medical professionals. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

Organ donor status won’t cost your life

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
September 27, 2023
An individual uses social media on a smartphone. Which social media platform is your favorite? (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Poll: What social media platform impacts students the most?

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
September 26, 2023
Janet Rodriguez (left), president and academic chair of sorority Alpha Sigma Omega, and Liliana Guerrero, secretary, co-fundraising and co-public relations of ASO, stand at a fundraising table in DuSable Hall. The sorority had fresas con crema available for purchase. Over the summer, NIU's student involvement made changes to its regulations for student organizations hosting food fundraisers. (Alberto Briones | Northern Star)

New food policy hurts student organizations

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
September 20, 2023
Victor E. Huskie waves at the camera in front of Altgeld Hall. The upcoming 116th Homecoming at NIU will be a great opportunity to exhibit Huskie pride. (Courtesy of Northern Illinois University)

Homecoming unites campus and city

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
September 19, 2023
An illustrated Davis Hall stands under a peaceful night sky. The observatory is now open from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Wednesday. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

Check out reopened Davis Hall Observatory

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
September 7, 2023
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