Advertisement
hiring ad
 
Ensure student journalism survives. Donate today.
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
View Our Salary Issue
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
Austin Lamb

Austin Lamb, News Editor

Austin Lamb is a sophomore majoring in English with a history minor. He is responsible for coverage of NIU’s Student Government Association. Outside of the Star, Austin enjoys playing music, weightlifting and playing PC games with his friends.

 

All content by Austin Lamb
President Donald Trump wears a Make America Great Again hat, which shadows his face. On Aug. 11, Washington, D.C. was put under military occupation as part of an effort by President Donald Trump to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital. (Associated Press)

National Guard takes over Washington, Chicago potentially next in line

By Diego Martinez and Austin Lamb
September 2, 2025
The curvature of the Earth is pictured from a GoPro attached to a weather balloon launched by NIU student group Proxima Centauri Alpha. The group launched the balloon on May 3 from Huskie Stadium. (Courtesy of Proxima Centauri Alpha)

Proxima Centauri Alpha launches weather balloon into upper stratosphere

By Austin Lamb, News Editor
August 28, 2025
A photo shows Mayor Cohen Barnes at a DeKalb City Council meeting on March 24. At its Monday meeting, the council agreed to move forward with a sales tax sharing agreement to cover a funding gap for a hotel construction project. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

City Council moves forward with hotel sales tax sharing agreement

By Austin Lamb, News Editor
August 27, 2025
Candy Cloud, 2448 Sycamore Road, awaits its next customer on the evening of Aug. 4th. Candy Cloud’s first fall semester is approaching after holding their grand opening opening May 15. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Candy Cloud offers NIU students discounts, unique drinks

By Austin Lamb, News Editor
August 25, 2025
The setting sun casts sharp shadows on Thursday evening at the DeKalb County Courthouse. Timothy M. Doll was found guilty of the murder of Gracie Sasso-Cleveland and sentenced to 52 years in prison on Thursday at the DeKalb County Courthouse, two years and one week after her death. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Sex offender sentenced to 52 years for murder of teenage girl

By Austin Lamb, News Editor
August 24, 2025
DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder Tasha Sims is pictured. Sims announced on July 25 that she plans to run for re-election. (Courtesy of Tasha Sims)

DeKalb County Clerk Tasha Sims announces bid for another term

By Austin Lamb, News Editor
August 3, 2025
The Hopkins Park pool is pictured while closed for construction. The DeKalb Park District authorized IHC Construction to begin major renovations for the pool this summer. (Northern Star File Photo)

DeKalb Park District approves new outdoor swimming facility at Hopkins Park

By Austin Lamb, News Editor
June 1, 2025
A road closed sign sits surrounded by snow. Work on the roundabout project at the Lucinda Avenue and Normal Road intersection will begin May 12. (Northern Star File Photo)

Normal Road roundabout project set to begin May 12

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 30, 2025
Steve Larson, a mechanical engineering instructor at NIU Rock Valley campus, listens to a presentation of a pressure switch design test rig at the senior design showcase. The 2025 Senior Design Showcase will take place May 2 at the Convocation Center. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU to host engineering Senior Design Showcase Friday

By Austin Lamb and Devin Oommen
April 30, 2025
Senators Kevin Klister (left) and Matt Robinson sit and listen at the SGA meeting on Oct. 18, 2024. On Friday, SGA failed to meet quorum and scrapped all remaining legislation as a result.

SGA fails to meet quorum, scraps remaining legislation

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 28, 2025
Rep. Lauren Underwood speaks to a crowd of protesters at NIU's MLK Commons. Hundreds of protesters gathered in support of international students, faculty and staff following the revocation of international student visas at NIU and across the country.

Protesters gather at NIU in support of international students, faculty and staff

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 23, 2025
A protester stands on Illinois Route 23 while holding a sign that says “FASCIST IMPEACH 47 NOW” and flips off a truck as it billows smoke from its exhaust pipe. The No Kings protest began just before noon and lasted until around 1:45 p.m. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Hundreds gather in DeKalb for No Kings anti-Trump protest

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 21, 2025
(From left to right) Chairperson Crawford, Senators Chigurupati, Woodson, Ivy, Samuel, Udoh and Boniecki are pictured at the Student Government Association’s Senate meeting on Friday. The Senate approved its annual funding for student organizations. (Austin Lamb | Northern Star)

SGA passes annual funding budget for student organizations

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 21, 2025
A sign for Normal Road is pictured in front of a tree at the intersection of Normal and West Lincoln Highway. A portion of Normal Road will be closed for an estimated two to three weeks as part of a project to improve pedestrian safety. (Northern Star File Photo)

Normal Road to be temporarily closed to install median, crosswalks

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 18, 2025
(From left to right) Senators Klister, Lavallias, Chigurupati, Deputy Speaker Gonzalez, Chairperson Monteleone and Senator Obabko are pictured at the Student Government Association’s Senate meeting on Friday. The Senate confirmed Nathan Gonzalez as the Speaker of the Senate for next year. (Austin Lamb | Northern Star)

SGA confirms new speaker of the senate

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 13, 2025
An NIU sign is pictured in the MLK Commons. Five international students had their visas revoked, according to NIU officials. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

5 NIU international student visas revoked, university officials confirm

By Austin Lamb and Devin Oommen
April 10, 2025
Protesters line the sidewalk at Memorial Park with signs that read "Hands off our democracy," "No kings! Hands off our country" and more. Crowds gathered on Saturday to protest perceived issues with the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement with the federal government. (Devin Oommen | Northern Star)

Crowds gather in DeKalb to protest Trump, Musk policies

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 6, 2025
Cohen Barnes sits on a window sill. Barnes won this years mayoral election with 52% of the vote. (Courtesy of Cohen Barnes)

Cohen Barnes wins mayoral election

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
April 2, 2025
Senators Robinson and Zimmer are pictured at the Student Government Association's Senate meeting on Friday. The Senate repassed all bills from their March 21 meeting following an Open Meetings Act violation. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

SGA repasses March 21 bills after Open Meetings Act violation

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 30, 2025
The group members of Proxima Centauri Alpha stand in front of a sign in the Founders Memorial Library. On May 3, the group will launch a weather balloon from Huskie Stadium. (Courtesy of Proxima Centauri Alpha)

NIU student group Proxima Centauri Alpha to launch balloon into space

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 25, 2025
At a March 7 meeting, Senator Trevor Ivy discusses issues that prevented SGA’s Supreme Court from meeting. The SGA passed a bill Friday that updated responsibilities of the Chief justice. (Austin Lamb | Northern Star)

SGA passes bills to improve transparency with judicial branch

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 24, 2025
NIU Forensics Parliamentarian Debate teams stand proudly after being declared state champions. From left to right; Aleah Janae, Nathan Gonzalez, Damian Rocha, Ethan Montanez. (Photo Courtesy of Brenna Bretzinger)

NIU Forensics wins state debate championship

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 17, 2025
Senator Trevor Ivy discusses issues that prevented SGA’s Supreme Court from meeting. Chief Justice Max Jarmula spoke to the senate about communication and scheduling problems at the SGA’s meeting on March 7. (Austin Lamb | Northern Star)

SGA passes bill to prevent removed senators from running in future sessions

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 17, 2025
Former President Donald Trump appears in court for his arraignment, April 4, 2023, in New York.

Trump administration cuts funding for grants supporting IL farmers, food banks

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 4, 2025
Noah R. Meier is pictured in a mugshot at DeKalb County Jail. He was arrested for three counts of possession of child pornography on Wednesday. (DeKalb County Jail)

Noah R. Meier arrested for possession of child pornography

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 3, 2025
Christopher A. Judah is pictured in a mugshot at DeKalb County Jail. He was arrested for eight counts of possession of child pornography and eight counts of dissemination of child pornography on Wednesday. (DeKalb County Jail)

Christopher A. Juday arrested for possession, dissemination of child pornography

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 3, 2025
The Student Government Association sign hangs on a wall in the Holmes Student Center in the OASIS pit in 2022. SGA is hosting a special election on Wednesday for 10 open legislative seats. (Northern Star File Photo)

SGA passed bill to introduce executive orders

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
March 3, 2025
Nicolas Obabko is pictured speaking in front of the Student Government Association. He was one of two new senators that were confirmed at Friday’s meeting. (Austin Lamb | Northern Star)

Two new senators confirmed into SGA

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
February 24, 2025
Senator Bino Rosales and Ivory Rucker, former SGA chairperson, sit at a table during an SGA meeting on Oct. 20, 2024. At the student government’s meeting on Friday, the senate voted to remove Rosales as a result of communication and attendance issues. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

SGA removes senator for lack of communication and absences

By Austin Lamb and Joseph Ndu
February 19, 2025
Former New Jersey governor and administrator of the EPA Christine Todd Whitman smiles at the camera. She will be the next speaker in the Rebuilding Democracy Lecture series on Feb. 20. (Photo courtesy of Christine Todd Whitman)

Christine Todd Whitman to feature in next rebuilding democracy lecture

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
February 18, 2025
Senators Kevin Klister (left) and Matt Robinson sit and listen at the SGA meeting on Oct. 18, 2024. On Friday, SGA failed to meet quorum and scrapped all remaining legislation as a result.

SGA discusses removal of chairperson, decision tabled

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
February 11, 2025
A photo shows Cruz Marquis sitting at a table talking about Young Americans for Liberty. Marquis leads the libertarian group on NIU’s campus. (Katie Follmer | Northern Star)

Young Americans for Liberty: A new political voice on NIU’s campus

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
January 29, 2025
President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the 2025 House Republican Members Conference Dinner at Trump National Doral Miami in Doral, Fl., Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. The Northern Star interviewed students around campus to get their thoughts in the first days after Trump was inaugurated. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

NIU students speak on President Donald Trump’s second term

By Austin Lamb and Anna Wittenkeller
January 28, 2025
An image shows student groups and organizations at NIU’s involvement fair. The involvement fair took place on Wednesday and Thursday. (Austin Lamb | Northern Star)

NIU Involvement Fair helps students connect with each other

By Isabella Froh and Austin Lamb
January 24, 2025
Students gather in the lobby of the Stevenson B dormitory around 8:23am. A pipe burst in the dorm requiring the dorm to be shut down Tuesday morning. (Katie Follmer | Northern Star)

Pipe bursts in Stevenson Tower B Residence Hall

By Devin Oommen, Katie Follmer, Isabella Froh, and Austin Lamb
January 21, 2025
Police lights flash behind caution tape. A teenager was arrested Friday in connection with an armed robbery that occurred Jan. 11. (Northern Star File Photo)

Teenager arrested in connection with armed robbery

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
January 17, 2025
A photo shows Chief of NIU Police Darren Mitchell. Mitchell will retire on Jan. 31 after 25 years of service. (Northern Star File Photo)

NIU police chief announces retirement after 25 years of service

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
January 16, 2025
A graphic shows the Illinois state seal, an image depicting a member of a gym, a mobile drivers license and a payscale. Nearly 300 new laws went into effect at the start of 2025. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

New laws taking effect in Illinois and what students think of them

By Devin Oommen and Austin Lamb
January 14, 2025
A graphic depicts a gavel, a person wearing a cap and the words “advocacy legal assistance.” Jeanne Meyer has temporarily taken over Students Legal Assistance through the end of January due to Joseph Lovelace’s retirement. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Interim position open for Students Legal Assistance

By Austin Lamb, News Reporter
December 9, 2024
A graphic depicts the words “Class of 2024” and “Gradpalooza” along with photos of the Holmes Student Center, Victor E. Huskie and Mission III. The Class of 2024 Gradpalooza event will occur from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 11 at the Holmes Student Center. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU to host Class of 2024 Gradpalooza event

By Austin Lamb, Senior News Reporter
December 2, 2024
City Manager Bill Nicklas speaks to the crowd Tuesday during the DeKalb Public Library Board of Trustees special meeting. Emily Faulkner, DeKalb Public Library director, proposed a budget of $4.1 million instead of the original levy of $4.6 million. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

DeKalb Public Library Board passes 0% increase property tax levy

By Austin Lamb, Senior News Reporter
November 20, 2024
A graphic depicts a snowflake, books, a computer, people sitting at desks and the words "January" and "J Term." NIU is offering a J Term leading into the spring 2025 semester, which is where specific courses will be offered over winter break. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

NIU to offer J-term courses for second consecutive year

By Austin Lamb, Senior News Reporter
November 19, 2024
Bright Field Church, located at 901 Lucinda Ave. Suite L. sits on a sunny day. Bright Field Church opened in late September and some community members have expressed concern about the church opening. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Community raised concerns over Bright Field Church

By Austin Lamb, Senior News Reporter
November 14, 2024
A graphic depicts a turkey with the word "Thanksgiving" above it, a police car and wine glasses with a car representing drunk driving. The "Click it or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" campaigns will begin Nov. 22 and end Dec. 2. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

DeKalb County Sheriff’s office partners with local, state law enforcement agencies

By Austin Lamb, Senior News Reporter
November 14, 2024
A graphic depicts the year 2024 along with the word "Vote" in addition to the donkey representing the Democratic Party and the elephant representing the Republican Party. DeKalb County nominees Riley N. Oncken, Anna Wilhelmi, Linda Besler and Lori Grubbs spoke to the Northern Star about why they are running for office. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

2024 DeKalb County candidate profiles

By Emily Beebe and Austin Lamb
November 1, 2024
Student protesters hold Palestinian flags and signs during the rally held on Monday at MLK Commons. Students for Justice in Palestine hosted the event in honor of the one year anniversary of the conflict in Gaza. (Ryan Day | Northern Star)

Student protesters rally on one year anniversary date of Israel-Gaza conflict

By Emily Beebe and Austin Lamb
October 7, 2024
The Supreme Court building in Washington D.C. sits outside on a sunny day. On Aug. 28, the United States Supreme Court rejected the Biden administration's new SAVE plan for students who borrowed loans through the Direct Loan Program. (Getty Images)

Supreme Court rejects Biden’s student debt plan

By Austin Lamb, News Reporter
September 11, 2024
A Northern Star book from Oct. 7, 1955, sits open on a table. The Northern Star archives digitization project is delayed until the spring 2025 semester due to switching online platforms. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Northern Star archives digitization delayed to the spring 2025 semester

By Austin Lamb, News Reporter
August 29, 2024
Load More Stories

Sign In

Forgot password?

Register

Reset Password

Please enter your username or email address, you will receive a link to create a new password via email.