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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Kahlil Kambui

Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Kahlil Kambui is a sophomore English major and journalism minor. He joined the Northern Star as an opinion columnist in the fall of 2023. Outside of the Star, you can find Kahlil playing chess, watching horror movies or biking down nature’s paths.

All content by Kahlil Kambui
A person sits across a cake for the muisc of "Off The Meter" for Ken Carsons new album "More Chaos". Ken Carsons fourth studio album "More Chaos" is a chaotic mess. (Ken Carson Under Free Use)

The chaotic mess that is ‘More Chaos’

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 17, 2025
A man puts an earbud into his left ear. Hearing loss is a growing issue in millennials and Gen Z and is irreversible but not unpreventable. (AP Newsroom)

Noise, the not-so-silent danger among Gen Z

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 15, 2025
A picture of a piece named "Archform Collection (selected)" sits on a pedestal. Shahrazad Motallebi's Code to Cast exhibition is available to the public. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

‘Code to Cast’ transforms algorithms into art

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 8, 2025
Students dance between tables as blue lights shine down on them. The music played at Queer Prom was chosen through suggestion by students. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Gallery: PRISM holds Queer Prom for LGBTQIA+ students

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 4, 2025
Convention goers check out the multiple merchendice tables in Artist Alley held in the Duke Ellington Ballroom. NIU's Anime Association held their annual anime convention Karoshi-Con Saturday in the Holmes Student Center. (Ethan Rodriguez | Northern Star)

Anime fans, cosplayers gather at annual Karoshi-con

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 31, 2025
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)

Spring Pops concert receives massive turnout

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 22, 2025
The Islamic Center of DeKalb sits at 801 Normal Road and serves the local Muslim community by providing a place of worship. From Feb. 28 to March 29 Muslims all over the world observe the holy month Ramadan. (Northern Star Media)

Ramadan: How and why it’s observed

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 18, 2025
Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars sing on stage in the music video for “Die With a Smile.” Lady Gaga maintains her pop music legacy with her newest album “MAYEM.” (Lady Gaga under Free Use)

Lady Gaga maintains pop music legacy with ‘MAYHEM’

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 16, 2025
The NIU Wind Ensemble performes "O King from Sinfonia" by Luciano Berio on stage during thier concert. The NIU Wind Ensemble wowed the audience during their performance. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

NIU Wind Ensemble wows the crowd during performance

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 28, 2025
The Greek letters of Sigma Phi Epsilon sit on a red background. The Sigma Phi Epsilon NIU chapter held their pre-opening open house on Feb. 22 (Kahlil Kambui I Northern Star)

Sigma Phi Epsilon finds their new home

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 24, 2025
A photo of Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR's album "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U" released Feb. 14. "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U" is not the album that will help Drake's legacy. (PARTYNEXTDOOR under Fair Use)

Drake’s newest attempt to regain stardom falls short

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 19, 2025
Mark Grayson (Invincible) receives his new costume from Art in the newest episodes of Invincible. The first three episodes of Invincible released Feb. 6.(Prime Video under Fair Use)

‘Invincible’ Season 3 starts off strong

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 13, 2025
Cara Collins, director for the Monona Grove High School Jazz Ensemble II, conducts for the band to decrescendo during a section of “La Noche Del Burrito Picante” by Mike Dana. Myles Franklin-Smith, NIU’s clinician for Monona Grove High School, commented that the band stayed together well for the larger ensemble size but could have increased the tempo for the songs to engage the audience. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Young musicians unite to perform in Jazz Day

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 7, 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)

NIU Wind Ensemble celebrates Black composers

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 29, 2025
A photo of an Oscar award sitting on a red pedestal on a red background. The 97th Academy Awards has announced the nominees for its 23 categories.(Getty Images/Bettmann)

Oscar nominations highlight ‘Emilia Pérez’

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 27, 2025
Mac Miller on stage at The Meadows Music & Arts Festival 2017, On January 17 Mac Miller second posthumous album dropped (Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for The Meadows)

Mac Miller’s newest album releases after his passing

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 20, 2025
A person writes down their many New Year’s resolutions on a chalkboard. New Year resolutions are hard to maintain, so here are some tips to help you keep up with them. (Getty Images)

Tips to maintain your New Years resolutions

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 16, 2025
The main character, Ellen, screams in horror after Count Orlock appears suddenly and strangles her. "Nosferatu" (2024) retells the story of the classic "Nosferatu" (1922) and plays off of the story of Dracula. (Universal Pictures All 
-Access under Fair Use)

‘Nosferatu,’ a must-see retelling of the original

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 15, 2025
Ashley Johnson, SGA's chief of staff, stands behind a podium and addresses the crowd during the state of the SGA address held at noon Wednesday in the Sandburg Auditorium located in the Holmes Student Center. During the event, Johnson introduced each speaker before they gave their addresses. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

SGA holds annual State of the SGA Address

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
December 5, 2024
The Ellwood House Museum, located at 420 Linden Place, sits on a Tuesday afternoon. The Ellwood House is opening Ellcourt during the holiday season, with self-guided tours occurring Wednesday through Sunday along with Monday through Dec. 15. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Ellwood House Museum celebrates the holidays with decor

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
December 3, 2024
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)

Matt Robinson reinstated to SGA

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 28, 2024
A table of the Punk Rock Club sits at the Oasis area on Thursday during the Discover Your Pack event hosted by the Student Government Association. The Discover Your Pack event promotes organizations recently approved from SGA to try and get students involved in their organizations. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

SGA holds first Discover Your Pack event

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 22, 2024
Speaker Manny Corpuz and Clerk Cameron Sawyer sit at a table while Speaker Corpuz bangs the gavel on the table. Senator Matt Robinson was dismissed from the SGA Senate Friday due to accumulating too many absences. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Matt Robinson dismissed from SGA senate

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 18, 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)

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)

SGA passes bill to allow senators to speak to press

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
November 3, 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)

SGA proposes bill to allow senators to speak to press

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 27, 2024
Leaves are scattered on the ground nearby Greek Row on Monday afternoon. DeKalb's annual Loose-Leaf Leaf Collection will start Monday and go through Dec. 6, weather permitting. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

DeKalb to begin annual Loose-Leaf Leaf collection Monday

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 21, 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)

SGA confirms new director of Public Affairs

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 20, 2024
The clarinet section of the NIU Marching Band plays to the time marked by the drum major in front of their section at the Homecoming Block Party event Thursday. The marching band provided music for the entire parade and pep rally. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

NIU hosts annual Homecoming Block Party in downtown DeKalb

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 18, 2024
Andria Revolorio, a first-year psychology major, and Ellie Andries, a sophomore jazz studies major, pick up trash alongside the East Lagoon at the clean-up event Wednesday. The event was hosted from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Clean Our Campus event hosted Wednesday at East Lagoon

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 16, 2024
Aidan O'Brien, student trustee for the Student Government Association, stands behind a podium and talks. O'Brien provided an update about the new energy savings agreement the NIU Board of Trustees passed. (Sam Dion | Northern Star)

SGA approves new director of DEI

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 13, 2024
The NIU Department of Police and Public Safety, located at 395 Wirtz Drive, sits on a Monday afternoon. After a shooting on Sept. 29, at Illinois State University’s homecoming weekend which left one person killed and another critically wounded, NIU police have measures in place to keep NIU’s homecoming events safe. (Emily Beebe | Northern Star)

NIU Police will have increased presence at Homecoming

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
October 7, 2024
A trailer reads "Prairie Research Institute, The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Traveling Science Center." NIU held its 15th annual STEM Fest event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Holmes Student Center. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

NIU hosts 15th annual STEM Fest event

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
September 29, 2024
Student Government Association speaker Manny Corpuz swears in Eddie Guerrero as a new SGA senator. Guerrero was sworn in as SGA senator with a 12-2-0 vote. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Student Government Association elects new senator

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
September 29, 2024
First-year student Nia Syrai' Harris, a computer science major, engages in conversation with sophomore May Swe Oo, an education major at the Study Abroad Fair. The Study Abroad Fair provided students the opportunity to learn information about how to study abroad. (Zahra Yousif | Northern Star)

NIU hosts annual Study Abroad Fair

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
September 25, 2024
Catherine Squires, CEO and president of the NIU Foundation, gives an update at the Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday. Squires talked about their fundraising goals for the building of the Greek Life Center. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

NIU philanthropic achievements surpass $30 million

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
September 19, 2024
Members of the DeKalb Firefighters Color Guard stand in a line at the 9/11 event hosted on Wednesday. The 9/11 Patriot Day ceremony honored the memories and sacrifices from those who died on 9/11. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

DeKalb Fire Station #1 hosts 9/11 ceremony

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
September 11, 2024
A group of students gather at the kickoff of Food Truck Wednesdays hosted at the MLK Commons on Wednesday. Each Wednesday there will be up to 12 food trucks for students to go to. (Zahra Yousif | Northern Star)

Food Truck Wednesdays return to MLK Commons

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
August 28, 2024
Chris English, president of NIU’s Mars Rover club, spoke to a group of students during a Rover club meeting. The NIU Mars Rover Club meets at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays in the Engineering building, Room 254. (Courtesy of Chris English)

Rover Club tinkers for a tussle

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 29, 2024
Students crowd around a campfire at the East Lagoon. On Tuesday, the Recreation Center hosted an outdoor celebration for students which included kayaking, canoeing and s’mores. ( Zahra Yousif | Northern Star)

Full moon brings games and snacks

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 24, 2024
People gather at the start line for Walk A Mile in the Convocation Center. Saturday Safe Passage hosted their annual Walk A Mile event. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

A mile walked in honor of sexual assault survivors

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 22, 2024
The entrance of the NIU Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Highway sits empty. At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Safe Passage will host their annual Walk a Mile event for Sexual Assault Awareness month. (Northern Star file photo)

Walk A Mile to happen Saturday

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 19, 2024
A group of people practice Kung Fu moves on each other during a Kung Fu club meeting. The Chinese Kung Fu club meets from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Anderson Hall Room 135. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Kung Fu Club aims to teach self-discipline

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 16, 2024
A pug looks up sadly beside the words “this man cannot breathe, society has wronged him.” As pet-owners, it’s our responsibility to adopt ethically. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

Adopt dogs responsibly

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 9, 2024
Laurie Elish-Piper stands smiling. Elish-Piper has taken on the role of Executive Vice President and Provost at NIU. (Courtesy of Mia Hannon)

Laurie Elish-Piper aims for student success

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 2, 2024
Luna Lloyd, a first-year kinesiology major, responds to a street interview prompt. What is the best sign of spring? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: Signs of spring

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 29, 2024
Courtney Hughes, associate professor and faculty athletics representative, stands and smiles in front of a tree. Hughes won the 2024 Mid-American Conference Outstanding Faculty Award for Student Success. (Courtesy of Courtney Hughes)

Courtney Hughes wins MAC faculty award

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 28, 2024
The DeKalb Public Library sign sits outside at night with lights shining on it. At 6 p.m. on April 22, City Council will hold a public hearing for the 2024 Second Draft Annual Action Plan. (Northern Star file photo)

City Council to hold a public hearing

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 26, 2024
A figure in a pink shirt that reads “Love U 4 Ever” begs from their knees for another figure, who wears a green sweater that reads “Move On,” to take them back. Don’t take back cheaters; they aren’t worth it. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

Don’t take cheaters back

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 26, 2024
The Stevenson Retail Dining Center stands with its doors open. Stevenson’s dining needs an upgrade. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Make Stevenson dining buffet style

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 18, 2024
A sketched figured whistles and tunes their guitar. Country music is often hated on, but the classic genre deserves your support. (Gabriel Fiorini | Northern Star)

Give country music a chance

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
March 4, 2024
A person stares in horror and humiliation at something on their screen, whispering: "No, that can't be me." Deepfake pornography must be outlawed at a federal level to protect citizens from emotional trauma. (Mary Ngo | Northern Star)

Outlaw deepfake pornography

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 27, 2024
A gray cup pours water into a sink. DeKalb should not have won the award for 'Best Tasting Water' on Jan 26. (Olivia Zapf| Northern Star)

DeKalb’s water isn’t best tasting

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 20, 2024
Paris Martin, sophomore political science major, responds to a street interviews prompt. What is the best Girl Scout Cookie? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: Girl Scout Cookies

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 16, 2024
Two figures discuss transracial adoption at a desk, clarifying the needs of children will differ by race. Parents adopting children of different races must educate themselves on the unique challenges their child will face. (Christa Kim | Northern Star)

Transracial adoption requires education

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 12, 2024
A figure wearing a shirt with a peach icon sneers at the figure next to them, who hums happily and plays with their phone. IPhone users, stop discriminating against Android phone users. (Mary Ngo | Northern Star)

Stop Android discrimination

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
February 4, 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)

Academy Awards lack diversity

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 31, 2024
Gilbert Hall (top) and Neptune West stand under an overcast sky. Gilbert Hall is a residence hall for upperclassmen, while Neptune is a common housing choice for freshmen. Which year in college is best? (Northern Star Graphic)

Poll: What’s the best year in college?

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
January 30, 2024
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