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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
Ethan Rodriguez

Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor

All content by Ethan Rodriguez
The Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the NIU Steelpan Band perform onstage at the Spring Pops concert. The concert was a tribute to Latin American music and received a massive turnout of NIU students and DeKalb residents. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Spring Pops concert receives massive turnout

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 22, 2025
NIU gymnastics sophomore Isabella Ross prepares to compete in the balance beam event against Kent State University on Feb. 7. The Huskies fell to the University of Illinois by a score of 194.875-193.475 on Sunday. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Huskies take loss in last regular season meet

By Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter
March 16, 2025
Students put motivational messages in jars as they drink soda floats provided to them. The NIU Campus Activity Board held their Stay-A-Float event as a way to destress students after midterms. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Gallery: CAB hosts event to beat midterm stress for students

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
March 6, 2025
Director Linc Smelser bows at the end of the Arthur D. Montzka Memorial Concert as the audience roars with applause. The Arthur D. Montzka Memorial Concert was named after Arthur Dale Montzka, the first director of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra after his passing in 2002. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Gallery: Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra hosts its annual memorial concert

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
February 23, 2025
NIU men's basketball sophomore guard Quentin Jones (1) dribbles, evading Miami University sophomore guard Mekhi Cooper (11) during the Huskies' 84-69 loss against Miami on Jan. 14. Jones totaled a career-high 28 points against Akron University on Tuesday. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Slumping Huskies fall to streaking Zips

By Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter
February 18, 2025
Davis Hall and the observatory brace through the snow fall on Wednesday. Davis Hall is home to the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, the Department of Geography. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Gallery: NIU’s sudden snow day

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
February 13, 2025
A hand holds the chocolate-covered strawberry crème frappuccino from Starbucks. Several coffee shops welcome Valentine's Day with love-themed drinks (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Valentine’s Day drinks to share

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer
February 12, 2025
The Orion constellation brightly illuminates the night sky above DeKalb. The Orion constellation is considered one of the brightest constellations due to the constellation being partly made with the 7th and 10th brightest stars and was named after the Greek mythological hunter known for his skills. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Gallery: The stars over DeKalb

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
February 11, 2025
Gamers play against each other in "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate." Esports is a profession and hobby that can be heavily competitive and involves several popular games. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] NIU esports, a different way to play

By Alex Lockwood, Lifestyle Writer
February 6, 2025
Students converse among themselves after the Hasty Measures Concert’s conclusion. Hasty Measures was a music event held by the Composition Club which gave composers 24 hours to compose a piece before assigning those pieces to performers to learn in 24 hours. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Hasty Measures concert challenges musicians

By Ethan Quirk, Lifestyle Writer
February 3, 2025
Conductor Tom Bough and the NIU Wind Ensemble take a bow after performing "Soul to Soul." The NIU School of Music performed several pieces of music created by Black composers to celebrate Black History Month. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] NIU Wind Ensemble celebrates Black composers

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 29, 2025
The Barb City Manor retirement home, formerly known as the Joseph F. Glidden Hospital, sits on a Thursday afternoon. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst believes that raising the retirement age is needed, but also may be difficult. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Change the retirement age with care

January 24, 2025
NIU’s Observatory’s telescope sits pointed at the moon. The Observatory owns a 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope which is over 25 years old. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Gallery: NIU’s Observatory opening to the public

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
January 17, 2025
Gilbert Hall sits in front of Gilbert Drive on Wednesday afternoon. Which NIU residence hall is the best one to live in? (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Poll: Which residence hall is the best to live in?

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor
January 16, 2025
NIU sophomore guard Quentin Jones (1) drives past Miami Universirty sophomore guard Evan Ipsaro (2) during the Huskies’ 84-69 loss to the RedHawks on Tuesday night inside the Convocation Center in DeKalb. Jones led the game with 21 points, crossing the 20-point threshold for the sixth time this season. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Injury-riddled Huskies fall at home to MAC-leading RedHawks

By Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter
January 15, 2025
The Haribo Commons is located in Barsema Hall. Even though business majors spend most of their time in Barsema Hall, anyone can study there. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Best study spots at NIU

By Emily Beebe, Opinion Editor
January 13, 2025
Speaker Manny Corpuz and Clerk Cameron Sawyer sit at a table while Corpuz bangs the gavel on the table during the Student Government Association meeting Friday. Senator Matt Robinson was reinstated as senator at the meeting on Friday. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Matt Robinson reinstated to SGA

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 28, 2024
The Annette Johns box office sits inside the Stevens Building on Wednesday afternoon. At 8:30 a.m. Monday, around 70 faculty and students delivered a petition to NIU President Lisa Freeman at Altgeld Hall asking for the pause on recruitment for the MFA in Acting program. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Protesters rally to lift the MFA in Acting recruitment pause

By Mariestrella Corral, News Reporter
November 21, 2024
John Volgi (left), division head for Career and Technical Education from Wheeling High School and sophomore industrial and systems engineering major Matthew Vanderwater talk about NIU Supermileage visiting Wheeling High School. NIU Supermileage is a student-led organization that aims to build the most fuel-efficient vehicle and competes against other universities from several countries. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] College of Engineering and Engineering Technology hosts second annual showcase

By Joseph Ndu, Senior News Reporter
November 18, 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)

[Photo] Community raised concerns over Bright Field Church

By Austin Lamb, Assistant News Editor
November 14, 2024
Senators Kevin Klister and Caitlin Field sit at a table and listen to Speaker Manny Corpuz talk at the SGA meeting Friday. SGA passed resolution SR56014, which confirmed that senators will receive a stipend amount of $250 for the spring semester. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Cooper Vaske dismissed from SGA senate

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 10, 2024
Senators Onyenum Udoh (from left), Eddie Guerrero, Paul Samsonek and Clerk Cameron Sawyer sit at a table during the SGA meeting Friday. In a vote of 9-0-2, SGA passed Bill SB56008 which allows senators to speak to the press. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] SGA passes bill to allow senators to speak to press

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 3, 2024
Pumpkins sit on the grass for the decorated pumpkin competition with some labeled for the place they finished. The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival began back in 1956 and had over 1000 entries in the Lions Club Decorated Pumpkin Display this year. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Gallery: 63rd Annual Sycamore Pumpkin Fest

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
October 29, 2024
Speaker Manny Corpuz and Clerk Cameron Sawyer sit at a table while Speaker Corpuz bangs the gavel on the table. SGA proposed a bill to allow senators to speak to the press, which will be voted on at the next meeting. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] SGA proposes bill to allow senators to speak to press

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 27, 2024
Students look at their screens as they play games during tournaments held at the NIU Esports Arena on Wednesday night. The games in the tournament included “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “EA Sports College Football 25.” (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Game through the decades with NIU Esports

By Yari Tapia, Lifestyle Writer
October 17, 2024
Ivory Rucker, former Student Government Association chairperson, holds the microphone and addresses the other senators during her speech. In a vote of 11-0-1, Rucker was confirmed as the SGA director of Public Affairs. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] SGA confirms new director of Public Affairs

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 20, 2024
Employees of the Special Collections and Archives Department at NIU help children learn about how printing was done with bright colors and fun shapes. The Special Collections and Archives Department at NIU’s Founders Memorial Library is restoring three printing presses previously used by NIU for a future class called “The History of the Book.” (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: 15th annual STEM Fest

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
October 1, 2024
The moon in its waning gibbous phase at the NIU Observatory at the top of Davis Hall. The NIU Observatory is open to the public every Wednesday that class is in session between 8 to 10 p.m. (Northern Star | Ethan Rodriguez)

[Photo] Family Weekend brings community together

By Anna Wittenkeller, News Reporter
September 23, 2024
A group of students gather to talk to an employer at the STEM/IT Fair. The fair provides an opportunity for students, alum and community members to connect with employers for potential recruitment. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] NIU hosts STEM/IT Fair

By Victoria Wakeford, News Reporter
September 18, 2024
Students browse several fraternities’ and sororities’ tables Sept. 11 at the Involvement Fair. Involvement fairs are a good way to meet members of multicultural fraternities and sororities. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Multicultural fraternities and sororities create home away from home

By Brynn Krug, Editor in Chief
September 18, 2024
The front of the Spirit Halloween store glows on a gloomy night. A Friday the 13th so close to Halloween is perfect to get you into the ghoulish season. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] Friday the 13th, a ghoulishly good time

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer
September 12, 2024
Senior psychology major Ashley Gonzalez plays a game at the Voluntary Action Center booth to win a prize Wednesday at the Involvement Fair. The Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois offers Meals on Wheels and delivers lunch to senior citizens. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] 2024 Involvement Fair highlights student organizations

By Gray Edelstein and Joseph Ndu
September 4, 2024
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology Dean Dave Grewell speaks at the CEET Welcome Back Cookout. Grewell received his BS, MS, and Ph.D. in welding engineering from The Ohio State University. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: CEET hosts Welcome Back Cookout

By Ethan Rodriguez, Photo Editor
August 30, 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)

[Photo] Northern Star archives digitization delayed to the spring 2025 semester

August 29, 2024
A sign that reads "Disability is Diversity" hangs on a wall in the Disability Resource Center. The Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) is a new service through the DRC that provides captioning for students with hearing impairments. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

[Photo] NIU provides accessibility to students with hearing disabilities

August 29, 2024
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