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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Kahlil Kambui

Kahlil Kambui, Opinion Editor

Kahlil Kambui is a junior 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 shopping for vintage clothes, watching horror movies or biking down nature’s paths.

All content by Kahlil Kambui
Two Generative AI model apps Deepseek and ChatGPT sit on the screen of a phone. Opinion Editor Kahlil Kambui argues that artificial intelligence should not be used due to the negative impact it has on the environment and society. (AP Newsroom)

AI causes more harm than good

By Kahlil Kambui, Opinion Editor
August 3, 2025
A pride flag is held high in the air during LA Pride in the Park festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park. Due to the ongoing attacks of Queer and Trans rights in America by the Trump administration Pride Month has become even more necessary. (AP Photo | Chris Pizzello)

The importance of Pride Month

By Kahlil Kambui, Opinion Editor
June 1, 2025
A photo of the Spring Dance Concert flyer sits on a table. The NIU School of Theatre and Dance impressed the audience during its Spring Dance Concert Friday evening. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

Themes of community sparked during Spring Dance Concert

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 27, 2025
Four members of the NIU Wind Ensemble play vacuums and a power tool as instruments during the song "A Grand, Grand Overture." The NIU Wind Symphony and Ensemble pleasantly shocked audience members during their Combined Band Concert. (Kahlil Kambui | Northern Star)

NIU Wind musicians perform with vacuums as instruments

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
April 23, 2025
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 News Editor
December 5, 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 News 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 News 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 News 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 News 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 News Editor
November 3, 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 News Editor
October 20, 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 News Editor
October 13, 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 News 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 News 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 News 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 News 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, News Reporter
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, Senior News Reporter
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, Senior News Reporter
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, Senior News Reporter
April 24, 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, Senior News Reporter
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, Senior News Reporter
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, Senior News Reporter
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, Senior News Reporter
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, Opinion Columnist
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, Senior News Reporter
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, Senior News Reporter
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, Opinion Columnist
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, Opinion Columnist
March 18, 2024
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