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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Lucy Atkinson

Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor

Lucy Atkinson first joined the Northern Star in the fall of 2022 as an opinion columnist. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, she is a junior at NIU majoring in journalism with hopes to minor in geology. In her free time, Lucy enjoys reading, going for runs, playing piano and collecting notes on Illinois’s beautiful flora and fauna!

All content by Lucy Atkinson
Elimelech Freites-Alvarado, a sophomore biochemistry major, responds to a street interviews prompt. What’s your game plan if the zombie apocalypse starts on NIU’s campus? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: Zombie apocalypse

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
October 7, 2024
A figure sits thinking in front of a rainbow gradient of humanities field symbols, while spiky speech bubbles coming from off-frame read: “Useless!” “Worthless!” and “Low Pay!” Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko believes labeling certain majors useless is both harmful and untrue. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] No major is useless

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
September 29, 2024
"Faulkner Studies," volumes one through three, sits on a bookshelf near other famous literary works in the reference section of the Founder's Memorial Library. Opinion Columnist Jackson Shields encourages the consumption of challenging art to promote deeper thinking. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] Try art that challenges your thinking

By Jackson Shields, Opinion Columnist
September 26, 2024
A sad, little stomach cries in a thought bubble surrounded by various breakfast foods. What college kid breakfast do you think is best? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] Poll: What college kid breakfast is best?

By Will Thiel, Opinion Columnist
September 24, 2024
Two orange mushrooms grow side-by-side on a mossy forest floor in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Opinion Editor Lucy Atkinson and her older sister were delighted to find the mushroom pair in August, looking like another little pair of sisters. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

No friendship like a sister’s

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
September 22, 2024
A hand drops a coin into a tip jar. It won't destroy you to leave a tip, Opinion Editor Lucy Atkinson argues, so choose to be courteous next time you get the chance. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Don’t be grumpy, leave a tip

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
September 18, 2024
Maya Al Massad responds to a street interviews prompt. In honor of the late actor, what was your favorite thing about James Earl Jones? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: James Earl Jones

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
September 15, 2024
A nest of paper wasps is covered with busy wasps inside the "Don't Walk" pedestrian sign at the intersection of Annie Glidden and Normal Road. Wasps and hornets are the subject of many people's fear, but especially as autumn approaches even the creepiest crawlies become vulnerable. (Tim Dodge | Northern Star)

Sharp edges are vulnerable too

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
September 11, 2024
An eye peers out beyond chaotic gray and brown scribbles. Opinion Columnist Jackson Shields views his anxiety as a myopic - or near-sighted - enemy that aims to keep him from meaningful experiences. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] My myopic self and I

By Jackson Shields, Opinion Columnist
September 10, 2024
I’liyah Jones, a freshman health sciences major, responds to a street interviews prompt. What’s the nicest thing someone’s done for you today, and what’s the nicest thing that’s ever been done for you? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: National Courtesy Month

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
September 8, 2024
Yellow and blue flowers and a line of school pencils surround a cartoon school building and the country Ukraine. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko grew to love the Ukrainian School she attended as a child, grateful for the exposure it provided to her heritage. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] Too cool for Ukrainian school

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
September 4, 2024
Opinion Editor Lucy Atkinson’s 12-year-old knees are crossed with bandaids. For children, scrapes are evidence of fun at the playground, just like failures as adults should be viewed as evidence of progress. (Courtesy of Shelley Atkinson)

Failure isn’t scary on summer legs

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
August 28, 2024
A suitcase sits in front of a door. When going on summer vacations, you should prepare for travel to make the most out of your trips. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] How to survive vacation

By Lindsay Curtis, Lifestyle Writer
April 30, 2024
The molted exoskeleton of a cicada nymph is left behind in the grass. The emergence of cicada broods offer us a unique opportunity to celebrate big change in our own lives. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Embrace the cicada swarms

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
April 23, 2024
A donkey and an elephant linked together by a yellow connection are snipped apart by a large pair of scissors. Given the meaningful values that are often linked to our political beliefs, it is OK to break ties with family and friends over politics. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star Graphic)

[Photo] End ties over politics

By Alberto Briones, Opinion Columnist
April 21, 2024
A goose walks parallel to a passing bus at the DuSable turnaround. Riding the bus is an easy way for college students to contribute to a green cause. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Ride the bus for Mother Nature

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
March 27, 2024
Ophelia Boyd, a first-year health science major, responds to a street interview prompt. Who is your favorite female historical figure, and what would you say to them? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: Women in history

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
March 25, 2024
Music notes, a leapfrog, a birthday cake and an engagement ring surround the words: "Leap Year." Do you enjoy Leap Day? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] Poll: Do you enjoy Leap Day?

By Emily Beebe, News Editor
February 28, 2024
An ambulance waits at a red light in front of the NIU Visitor’s Center. EMTs should be compensated well for their life-saving work. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] EMTs deserve more pay

By Emily Beebe, News Editor
February 14, 2024
Andrea Ignacio, senior communications major, responds to a street interviews prompt. What are the best and worst dates students have been on? (Northern Star Graphic)

Street Interviews: Best and worst dates

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
February 11, 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)

Professional doesn’t mean cold

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
January 15, 2024
A goose perches atop an NIU building on a partly cloudy day. Geese and students compete for space on NIU’s campus, but geese are often found with the higher ground. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] No more Huskies, we’re Geese

By Olivia Zapf, Editor in Chief
November 15, 2023
Six illustrations display leg, arm, armpit and pubic hair against floral backdrops. No person should feel ashamed of their body hair. (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Shave for you, not the patriarchy

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
October 31, 2023
A computer on the first floor of the Founders Memorial Library displays a red sign-in screen for the Math Assistance Center. Students shouldn’t be anxious to receive tutoring. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

[Photo] Don’t shy away from tutoring

By Kahlil Kambui, Assistant News Editor
October 12, 2023
The first page of the U.S. Constitution on display. The constitution has experienced many amendments and should always be allowed to evolve through the generations. (Courtesy of Wikicommons)

Constitutional amendments are necessary

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
September 11, 2023
An IUD laying on a person's hand. An IUD is a form of reversible birth control that is proven to be extremely painful, but some medical personal might downplay the pain. (Courtesy of Wikimedia)

Doctors, please take female pain seriously

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
September 6, 2023
File - The American and FOX flags fly outside the News Corp. and Fox News headquarters on  April 19, in New York. Fox Corp.'s hefty $787.5 million settlement with Dominion over defamation charges is unlikely to make a dent in Fox's operations, analysts say. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Fox deserved more retribution

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
May 4, 2023
 FILE - Tucker Carlson attends the final round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, N.J., July 31, 2022. Carlson was abruptly bounced from his popular prime-time show earlier in the day without explanation from Fox.  (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Good riddance, Tucker Carlson

By Lucy Atkinson, Opinion Editor
May 3, 2023
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