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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
Daniela Barajas

Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist

Daniela Barajas is a third-year student majoring in drawing. She joined the Star in the fall of 2024 as a cartoonist for the opinion section. Daniela will graduate in 2025, following a path that will allow her to be a character designer. Growing up at the same time as superheroes took over the spotlight, she gained an interest in them, and they were the reason she started to pursue this career path today.

All content by Daniela Barajas
Two legs with pink roller-skates glide over a wooden surface. The end of the semester is coming soon, and students are racing toward the end of classes. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Skate to the finish

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
November 15, 2024
Two shadows lean in toward each other over a phone with a notification from “Baby” that reads “Hey, where are you?????” Opinion Columnist Lalita Rai believes infidelity is never justified and that the status of every romantic relationship must be continuously communicated between partners. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Cheating is never justified

By Lalita Rai, Opinion Columnist
November 6, 2024
A man answers his door and asks "Dude... aren't you too old for trick-or-treating??" to a 22-year-old business major dressed up as Batman. Happy Halloween, Huskies! (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Grown-up trick-or-treating

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
October 30, 2024
A robot in a hat labeled "press" holds a newspaper in front of the Northern Star's red star logo, while a Huskie paw points accusatorily at the robot. The Northern Star will not publish any content created by artificial intelligence and encourages readers to review its AI policy. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Northern Star introduces its AI policy

By The Northern Star Editorial Board
October 29, 2024
Dracula sucks from a pouch of blood between two other students while his professor says, "Mr. Dracula, what did we say about drinking in class??" No matter how hard or frustrating instructions for midterms are, always remember to stay hydrated. And always drink water, unless you are Dracula. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Midterm sucks

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
October 11, 2024
A teal ribbon, the ribbon for sexual assault, floats in the faint light of a prison cell. Juvenile detention facilities in Illinois and across the U.S. have recently received disturbing allegations of sexual assault, and the result lawsuits deserve the public’s attention. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Editorial: Illinois failed its juvenile inmates

By The Northern Star Editorial Board
October 8, 2024
A student runs after a departing Huskie Line Bus, papers flying from their backpack. The Huskie Line is free for students, but far from a perfect transit system, and the Northern Star Editorial Board is eager to see tracking improvements. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Editorial: Students deserve Huskie Line improvement

By The Northern Star Editorial Board
September 24, 2024
Near a tree, a hand holds the stem of a red maple leaf. Students can admire the beauty of campus as leaves slowly begin to change colors. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cartoon: The rise and fall of students

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
September 19, 2024
A speaker wearing blue talks at a podium with a smile while images of a figure surrounded by destruction and fire are visible over her shoulder. Opinion Columnist Jackson Shields believes the conflict in Gaza deserved greater attention from the Democratic National Convention last month. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Silence isn’t an option, Democrats

By Jackson Shields, Assistant Opinion Editor
September 9, 2024
A laptop open to a movie script rests on a table near a NIU Theatre Arts Bachelors Degree. NIU’s Fine Arts program should be expanded for the benefit of arts students. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Fine Arts program must be flexible

By James Bennett, Opinion Columnist
April 24, 2024
A student munches on pizza from a pizza truck in front of the Holmes Student Center. Food Truck Wednesdays are an example of an NIU “tradition” that unites students, but NIU needs to create more meaningful traditions to improve campus life. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Editorial: Expand NIU’s traditions

By The Northern Star Editorial Board
April 21, 2024
A figure reaches for a door on a blue hub of Amazon delivery lockers. An Amazon Hub was recently added to campus in the Holmes Student Center. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Amazon Hub improves campus delivery

By Emily Beebe, News Editor
April 15, 2024
The Holmes Student Center stands under a thundercloud as money rains down from the sky. The Illinois General Assembly should approve the new funding formula to benefit Illinois universities. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Editorial: Illinois General Assembly should approve new funding formula

By The Northern Star Editorial Board
April 7, 2024
A snail approaches a black and white checkered finish line. The Spring 2024 semester will soon come to a close! (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Near the finish line

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
March 27, 2024
Eight fists raise toward a purple sky. Students should practice advocacy for political and social issues they care about. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Participate in student activism

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
March 19, 2024
An NIU safety alert pops up on a phone with an orange and yellow gradient lockscreen. NIU should continue releasing safety alerts for every reported crime. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Send safety notifications again

By Emily Beebe, News Editor
March 17, 2024
Beauty products are broken and scattered against a light blue background. Customers need to respect free samples laid on display for their advantage at stores. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Customers should respect cosmetic samples

By Emily Beebe, News Editor
February 25, 2024
A newspaper lays open on a table to a page that reads “Letters to the Editor.” The Northern Star does not receive many letters to the editor, but the Northern Star Editorial Board would love to see readers sending in more! (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Editorial: Letters to the editor benefit journalism

By The Northern Star Editorial Board
February 25, 2024
A Black woman accepts an Academy Award in front of a microphone. Underrepresentation has long been a major issue at the Academy Awards. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Academy Awards lack diversity

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor
January 31, 2024
A student sits in their room, watching Netflix and eating ramen. As students, always so worn out with school work, sometimes it’s helpful to take a pause in life and just escape reality. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Avoiding Reality

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
January 28, 2024
An identification card with the year of birth 2004 sits on a wooden table near a virgin margarita with a red cherry. NIU should allow students aged 19 and older to enter local bars. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Allow students 19 and older in college bars

By Lexi Nebel and Emily Beebe
January 29, 2024
Three people listen to rock music as the person in the middle holds up hand-horns, the rock ‘n’ roll gesture. Rock music has a politically powerful history. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Rock is a powerful genre

By Jescenia Calderon, Opinion Columnist
January 17, 2024
A student sits irritably in class as an instructor points at a chalkboard with a cold face. It’s important to maintain a friendly environment in the classroom as faculty and students return for the spring semester. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Professional doesn’t mean cold

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
January 15, 2024
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)

[Photo] Group projects disappoint

November 15, 2023
A goose stands on top of a huskie. The NIU Huskies should become the NIU Geese. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] No more Huskies, we’re Geese

By Olivia Zapf, Editor in Chief
November 15, 2023
Three figures look up at a sign. California's Food Safety Act, banning some food additives and coloring, is a step in the right direction. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] More states should adopt California’s Food Safety Act

By Olivia Zapf, Editor in Chief
November 13, 2023
A woman holds up her black cat dressed as Kermit the Frog. Happy early Halloween! (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

Cartoon: Spooky cat

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
October 26, 2023
A student sits in front of a computer with a poor Wi-Fi connection. NIU must provide both students and staff with working Wi-Fi. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] NIU needs to fix its internet

By Emily Beebe, News Editor
October 23, 2023
A student experiences an educational epiphany while receiving math tutoring. NIU students shouldn’t be anxious to get tutoring. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Don’t shy away from tutoring

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor
October 12, 2023

Cartoon: Music memory

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
October 5, 2023
Two children stand at the doors of a closed childcare center. It is important to invest in childcare programs. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Childcare programs deserve more support

By Emily Beebe, News Editor
September 27, 2023
The woman in purple has a self defense weapon with her and she looks worried. The purple symbolizes her fear and anxiety as there is a figure watching her on the path. The other side of the composition focuses on a man in orange. Orange is a color of ignorance and greed. He is looking the opposite way and ignoring his surroundings, including the path. (Daniela Barajas | Northern Star)

[Photo] Women’s safety on campus needs our attention

By Lexi Nebel, Opinion Columnist
September 12, 2023

Cartoon: Attack on geese

By Daniela Barajas, Cartoonist
August 31, 2023
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