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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

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
Michael Mollsen

Michael Mollsen, Former Written Managing Editor

Michael Mollsen (he/him) is a junior majoring in journalism and minoring in history. He joined the Northern Star in the spring of 2023. In his free time, Michael enjoys playing hockey on his weekends, as well as working out.

All content by Michael Mollsen
Three people stand talking and pointing. The Student Government Association held its State of SGA event today. (Northern Star graphic)

SGA announces petition to terminate Chief Justice

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
April 29, 2024
Three people stand a podiums gesturing and speaking. SGA on Friday voted against supporting the Indigenous Resource Center petition and Senator Demetri Anastopoulos was dismissed from the senate. (Northern Star graphic)

SGA senate fails to support indigenous resource center petition

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
April 22, 2024
Three people stand at podiums gesturing and speaking. The Student Government Association met on Friday to discuss potential constitutional bills about the Supreme Court and SGA stipends. (Northern Star graphic)

SGA Senate reworks constitutional bill

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
April 15, 2024
Three people stand at podiums gesturing and speaking. SGA on Friday discussed two potential bills that would adjust the Supreme Court Justice appointment process. (Northern Star graphic)

SGA Senate discussed two new constitutional bills

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
April 8, 2024
Three people stand and gesture while talking at podiums. The SGA appointed a new Supreme Court Justice and approved a bill regarding campaign violations at their meeting Friday. (Northern Star graphic)

Election results await SGA Supreme Court decision

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
April 1, 2024
Three people stand at podiums talking and gesturing. SGA on Friday dismissed Anthony Heavens, the director of student life. (Northern Star graphic)

Director Heavens dismissed from SGA

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
March 25, 2024
Aidan O’Brien, a junior marketing major and student trustee candidate, stands and addresses the crowd. The Student Government Association held a debate on Thursday for students to get to know the candidates. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Students go head-to-head during SGA Debate

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
March 22, 2024
Three people stand and gesture while talking at podiums. The SGA passed a new bill, listened to public comments and recognized new student organizations at their meeting Friday. (Northern Star graphic)

First Nations Native Alliance push for SGA sponsorship

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
March 4, 2024
Three people stand and gesture while talking at podiums. SGA met on Friday and appointed a new chief of staff, passed a new bill and approved a new club. (Northern Star graphic)

SGA appoints new Chief of Staff

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
February 19, 2024
Three students stand at podiums talking and gesturing. SGA’s meeting on Friday reduced the number of students required in club, mandated training for club leaders and had an incident with a senator bringing in food. (Northern Star Graphic)

SGA lowers club member requirement

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
February 12, 2024
Three students stand at podiums talking and gesturing. SGA’s meeting on Friday discussed new SGA election protocol for campaigning and recognized three new student organizations. (Northern Star Graphic)

SGA campaigning restricted to 100-feet from voting stations

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
February 5, 2024
Speaker Cole Hensley speaks at Friday’s State of the SGA Address. Hensley noted the SGA’s approval of 22 organizations this year as one of their achievements. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

First State of the SGA, No attendees

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
February 5, 2024
Three students stand at a podium talking and gesturing. The Student Government Association met at 2 p.m on Jan. 26 where they appointed a new director of academic affairs, gave seven organizations recognition and a senator violated the University Student Conduct policy. (Northern Star Graphic)

SGA recognizes seven student organizations

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
January 29, 2024
Senior biochemistry major Konur Kivisto (left), freshman computer science major Jakob Kasarcik and sophomore finance major Ryan Kramer play chess Tuesday at the Spring Involvement Fair. The fair was the first of many events happening at NIU this semester. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Upcoming events, spring semester 2024

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
January 18, 2024
A communal bathroom sits empty on the second floor of Neptune Hall West. Neptune experienced an issue with a boiler valve resulting in a lack of hot water. (Northern Star File Photo)

Neptune residents start semester without hot water

By Rachel Cormier and Michael Mollsen
January 17, 2024
Jade Silva Tovar, NIU's new assistant vice president of DEI, stands in front of a dark background. Tovar discussed her goals for NIU in an interview with the Northern Star. (Courtesy of Jade Silva Tovar)

Meet new assistant vice president for DEI

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
December 4, 2023
Staff of the Excelleaf recreational cannabis dispensary help out customers during the soft launch. Excelleaf is hosting its grand opening from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at 305 E. Locust St. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

DeKalb’s first recreational cannabis dispensary opens Friday

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
November 30, 2023
Students walk out of an NIU bus while it’s snowing. El Nino, a weather phenomena, can cause warmer and drier conditions during the winter. (Gabby Crabtree | Northern Star)

Prepare for winter despite El Nino

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
November 26, 2023
Two J-term courses sit in an NIU class shopping cart. NIU is offering courses during winter break, including classes like Introduction to FinTech and History of Science. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

[Photo] Pilot program brings NIU winter semester

By Brandon Clark, Senior News Reporter
November 26, 2023
Cover for '2 girls with a mic' Podcast (Graphic by Joey Trella | Northern Star)

‘2 girls with a mic’: Thanksgiving chaos

By Joey Trella, Sarah Rose, Michael Mollsen, and Anna Scanlan
November 20, 2023
A DeKalb firefighter walks around from the ladder truck to the front of The Terraces at DeKalb. A fire broke out around 10 p.m. Sunday at the apartment complex. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

BREAKING: Structure fire at The Terraces, fire out

By Rachel Cormier and Michael Mollsen
November 20, 2023
From left: Professor Abu Bah, Associate Professors Laura Heideman, Chess Thurber, Emily McKee and graduate student Nader Alghoul sitting on a panel Wednesday in the Regency Room at the Holmes Student Center to analyze the war between Israel and Hamas. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU panel discusses ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
November 9, 2023
A bottle of Aveeno body lotion sits with wads of tissue scattered on a nightstand. NIU students discuss their thoughts on No Nut November. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

No Nut November: Resist the urge

By Brandon Clark and Michael Mollsen
November 7, 2023
Altgeld Hall sits under a cloudy sky. Faculty Senate met Wednesday to discuss the multi-year budget plan. (Northern Star File Photo)

CFO Middlemist: ‘The university must change in order to survive’

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
November 3, 2023
Zombie Barbie dolls stand on Amy Forkell's lawn. Forkell has over 800 zombie Barbies set out for Halloween this year. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

DeKalb resident creates zombie Barbie horde

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
October 29, 2023
The Egyptian Theatre sits under a cloudy sky. DeKalb county residents share their ghostly stories with the Northern Star. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

What’s so paranormal about the activity in DeKalb?

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
October 25, 2023
A student doodles while working on homework. NIU students spoke about their experience dealing with ADHD. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

NIU students navigate college with ADHD

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
October 17, 2023
Altgeld Hall, the meeting place for University Council, sits under a cloudy sky. Tim Paquette, director of Counseling and Consultation Services, and Kelly Olson, associate vice president for Student Development and dean of students, discussed the progress of the mental health early action act on campus update. (Northern Star File Photo)

Peer counseling, technology updates for mental health

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
October 11, 2023
A calzone from D.P. Dough is ripped in two and has cheese pulling between halves. D.P. Dough, a new restaurant in DeKalb, had a soft opening on Tuesday. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

D.P. Dough brings calzones to DeKalb

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
September 26, 2023
Isiah Camarao, a sophomore biological sciences major, teaches a group at the Foreign Language Residence Program to speak Tagalog. The Foreign Language Residence Program helps to teach language through conversation. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

FLRP does not flop when it comes to learning a language

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
September 20, 2023
Altgeld Hall sits under a cloudy sky. Enrollment is down for another fall semester. (Northern Star File Photo)

University Council: Enrollment down, ‘painful’ budget changes

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
September 13, 2023
An American flag is placed on the World Trade Center memorial to honor one of the fallen from the Sept. 11 attacks. (Wes Sanderson | N.S. File photo)

The impact of 9/11 at NIU

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
September 10, 2023
Emergency workers stand at the site of a structure fire at 1024 W. Hillcrest Drive. The fire started around 2 p.m. Friday. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

[Photo] BREAKING: Structure fire on Hillcrest Drive; no injuries

By Northern Star Staff
September 8, 2023
A Sycamore student aged 17 died Sept. 7 after being stabbed. (Getty Images)

17-year-old student dies after stabbing in Sycamore

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
September 8, 2023
Students and community members carrying flags and parading through campus, celebrating the beginning of Latino Heritage Month on Sept. 15 2022. Latino heritage month runs from September 15 to October 15 each year. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

Month-long Hispanic Heritage events kick off Sept. 13

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
September 6, 2023
An empty storefront at 2565 Sycamore Road sits stationed in the sun. The empty store's windows are decorated Crumbl Cookie bannners. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

[Photo] ‘Let’s get ready to Crumbl,’ new cookie shop to join DeKalb

By Rachel Cormier, Assistant News Editor
September 5, 2023
NIU's observatory on Friday is located inside of Davis Hall. The observatory is open 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Wednesday. ( Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

Davis Hall Observatory reopened to NIU

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
August 29, 2023
Everett Barnett, a first-year majoring in computer science, stand with his mom Catherine in front of Grant Towers on Thursday. First-year and returning students moved over the weekend in preparation for the Fall semester. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

NIU move-in day beats the heat

By Michael Mollsen, News Editor
August 27, 2023
DeKalb downtown welcomes a new wine and charcuterie restaurant Class VI, 214 E Lincoln Highway. The winery offers crafted cocktails and a wide variety of wine. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

New wine bar coming to DeKalb

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
May 3, 2023
Recently built garden beds near the Stevens Building. 100 new gardens beds have been built as part of the Edible Campus initiative.(Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

Edible Campus to promote sustainability

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
May 2, 2023
Students walking up stairs on their way to class. The rate of students leaving college with some credits but no degree has gone up 3.6% since 2022.

Student population with some college credits, no credentials grows

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
April 26, 2023
NIU Cares volunteers at the DeKalb County Community Garden lift wooden boards to move them to a different location. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

NIU Cares provides service around DeKalb

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
April 22, 2023
Quinyatta Hutchinson was arrested for child sex abuse. (Courtesy of DeKalb Police Department)

NIU senior arrested for child sex abuse

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
April 20, 2023
"Weather person" Nicholas Gomez, a junior mechanical engineering major. Gomez has used the social media app Yik Yak to anonymously report the weather. (Bridgette Fox | Northern Star)

Who is the Yik Yak ‘weather person’

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
April 18, 2023
The palette covering up the broken window at The Fargo. The Fargo hosted an art event on April 14. (Savannah Lundberg | Northern Star)

Car crash leads to community art event

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
April 15, 2023
The first cover of “Northern Illinois,” now the Northern Star, that was scanned by the Special Collections and Archives department. The department is undergoing efforts of digitizing the historic editions of the paper. (Courtesy of Glidden Homestead)

Event to be held on digitizing historic Northern Star articles

By Michael Mollsen
April 13, 2023
Multiple posters in Reavis Hall, one poster advising students to not skip class. NIU has been campaigning for students to stop missing class. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

NIU’s response to skipping class

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
April 6, 2023
SGA Senate The Student Government Association Senate unanimously approved its first senator for the semester at Sunday’s meeting.

Results of SGA elections announced

By Michael Mollsen, Senior Reporter
March 31, 2023
The logo for the NIU Reproductive Rights Association, a student group focused on protecting reproductive rights. On April 13, the group is partnering with Men4Choice to host an educational event focused on educating men on reproductive rights.

RRA and Men4Choice to host reproductive rights event

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 30, 2023
The NIU Recreation Center during a snowy afternoon on campus. It is the perfect place for students to exercise before heading back to their dorm room. (Mingda Wu | Northern Star)

CAB to host a campus paint party

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 29, 2023
Historic and modern images of the historic Finnish Temperance Society Meeting Hall, today's DeKalb Area Women's Center, at 1021 State St. (Left) Courtesy of Joiner History Room, (Right) Photo by Grace Ellinger.

Ellwood House to present new exhibit discussion, Past and Pleasant

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 22, 2023
"A Huskie statue outside of the Peters Campus Life Building overlooking the intersection of Normal Road and Lucinda Avenue. Oorah, a Huskie Statue outside of the Doherty Law Firm, was stolen last year, leading the firm's owner to work with a local art teacher to recreate the statue. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Stolen Huskie statue set to rejoin the Huskies on Parade

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 21, 2023
Downtown DeKalb’s Frost Parking Lot rests empty Friday at East Locust and Sixth Street. A new city ordinance will allow DeKalb commuters to park after 5 a.m. and take the 12 line bus to the Elburn train station. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

Elburn bus route free for OneCard holders

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 19, 2023

A “Celebration of India” to be held March 25

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 8, 2023

SGA to host Women’s History Month brunch

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 6, 2023

Free tickets available for event with NPR correspondent

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 2, 2023
Lisa Freeman was recently elected to the Chicago Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees.

Lisa Freeman elected to Chicago Zoological Society’s Board of Trustees

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
March 1, 2023
Student Government Association Senators Dallas Douglass (left) and Chris English addressing other SGA senators. During the Feb. 24 meeting, the SGA approved legislation that requires all senators to pass at least one piece of legislation during their term. (Michael Mollsen | Northern Star)

SGA now requires senators to write legislation

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
February 26, 2023
NIU women's basketball team huddled in a circle before the game on Feb. 18, 2023 against Ball State. The Huskies defeated the University of Central Michigan on Saturday by a final score of 70- 57. (Northern Star file photo)

DeKalb day planner: Feb. 25

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
February 22, 2023
The sun sets beyond the west side of campus Tuesday as drivers pass down Lucinda Avenue. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

DeKalb County under winter advisory, snow storm to pass

By Michael Mollsen, Senior News Reporter
February 21, 2023

NIU crime log, Jan. 2023

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
February 15, 2023
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week starts Feb. 20.

NIU Nutrition hosts events for National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
February 15, 2023
Tillius the Paladin, played by Emma Mansfield, a third-year acting major, slaying three monsters in the play "She Kills Monsters," performed by the NIU School of Theatre and Dance in October. (Bayan Abuihmoud | Northern Star)

School of Theatre and Dance to perform Spanish play ‘Life is a Dream’

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
February 8, 2023
A copy of the first edition issue of the newspaper that came to be known as the Northern Star rests on a podium. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU library digitizing Northern Star issues from 1899 to 1997

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
February 7, 2023
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Michael Mollsen

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
February 1, 2023
Devon Walker and Michael Longfellow. (Photo courtesy of NIU Media and Communications)

New SNL cast members to visit NIU

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
January 25, 2023
Cannabis Dispensary sales in adult use went up more than $1.5 billion from the previous year according to Gov. JB Pritzker.

Illinois hits record-setting year in adult use cannabis sales

By Michael Mollsen, News Reporter
January 18, 2023
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