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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
Madelaine Vikse

Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief

Madelaine Vikse is the Editor-in-Chief at the Northern Star. She is a senior this year majoring in journalism with a minor in communication studies.

Madelaine joined the Northern Star in May 2021 as a lifestyle writer and became lifestyle editor in the Spring 2022 semester. She became editor-in-chief in the summer of 2022. She is the creator of the Ask Madelaine advice column on the Star’s website.

In her free time, Madelaine enjoys photography and taking care of her seemingly endless collection of plants. She loves films, cooking and has a pet aquatic turtle.

After graduating, she looks forward to gaining even more valuable experience in the journalism field.

All content by Madelaine Vikse
Madelaine Vikse joined the Northern Star at NIU in May 2021.

EIC says goodbye with graduation ahead

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
May 7, 2023
Stacia Tietje (left), a dietetic intern, and Nancy Prange, dietetic internship director, with packaged food collected by Huskie Harvest. Huskie Harvest was launched on Feb. 1 by Prange, in collaboration with Campus Dining Services.

Huskie Harvest aims to combat food waste

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
April 25, 2023
Volunteers work to clean the DeKalb County Community Garden on Friday for the annual NIU Cares day of service. (Madelaine Vikse)

IN PICTURES: NIU Cares day volunteers clean, plant

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
April 21, 2023
NIU Cares day of service volunteers pose for a photo Friday at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. At this location, volunteers were to help plant and clean the church’s garden on Friday during NIU Cares. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Volunteers stand and chat in front of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church after completing their gardening work. The church was one of the locations volunteers went to in order to help out for NIU Cares, an annual day of service. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Early in the afternoon at the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 1201 Twombly Road location, volunteers lift and move bricks and other building materials. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Volunteers set down rakes and other supplies to strategize what they’ll do next. At the church, volunteers cleared weeds, planted and spread new mulch. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Kurleisha Phillips, a senior communication major, volunteers in the afternoon Friday at the DeKalb County Community Garden, 2475 Bethany Road. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

NIU Cares volunteers at the DeKalb County Community Garden lift wooden boards to move them to a different location. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] NIU Cares provides service around DeKalb

April 22, 2023
Volunteers clean the garden at the DeKalb County Community Garden location. Along with cleaning, volunteers planted and worked in the garden’s greenhouse. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Volunteers cut materials and attach them to different displays with environmental themes. One of the volunteering locations featured work on a City of DeKalb mosaic mural at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak Street. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

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A plate holds shards of stained glass and ceramic for volunteers to cut and arrange sits on a table while they work to lay the tesserae on one of the displays. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Alejandro Trujillo Graciano, a junior medical laboratory science major, works on one of the mural displays at the DeKalb Public Library. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

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Elizabeth Torres, a junior psychology major, runs one of the check-in tables in the morning Friday at Altgeld Hall, outside the auditorium. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Diane Johnson (left), director of donor relations for the NIU Foundation, Amy Ogden, associate director of donor relations for the NIU Foundation and Emma McMahon, associate director of donor relations for the NIU Foundation sit at a table during the free breakfast in the Altgeld Hall Auditorium. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Sean Quirke (left), a management information systems graduate student, Adell Crump, a senior biology major, Angela Nyam-Ochir, a English and environmental studies double major and Karli Waldrep, a senior physical education major, sitting during breakfast in Altgeld Hall. Breakfast was held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. before leaving to go to volunteer locations. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Madelyn Gluck, a junior medical lab science major, sitting at a table during breakfast in Altgeld Hall. Gluck said she volunteered because it sounded fun and would look good on her resume. This year, NIU Cares partnered with local businesses to send volunteers in order to help with a variety of projects. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Elian Garcia, a senior marketing major and member of Sigma Lambda Beta, sitting during the breakfast in Altgeld Hall. Volunteers got free shirts and could enjoy a complimentary breakfast before heading out to a volunteer location. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

A table sits empty during breakfast in the auditorium of Altgeld Hall before volunteers head to their locations around 10:30 a.m. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Danielle Casali, an artist, muralist and St. Charles resident, shows volunteers how to cut materials for the City of DeKalb Mosaic at the DeKalb Public Library. The library was one of the six volunteer locations for NIU Cares, an annual day of service. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo]

Sophomore geography major Martin Astter (left) and junior applied mathematics major Dylan Ruan discuss their theories about Tuesday’s hint after searching around the perimeter of the island at the East Lagoon. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: Students hunt for treasure

By Sean Reed, Mingda Wu, Nyla Owens, and Madelaine Vikse
April 13, 2023
Cole Phillips (left) and Hunter Mason found the paperweight and took home approximately $300 worth of gift cards, cash and physical prizes. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Heave! ‘Treasure’ found, hunt is off

By Northern Star Staff
April 13, 2023
The treasure hunt is held from Monday to Friday. Can you find the Northern Star paperweight and claim the prize?

[Photo] Ahoy! 2023 Northern Star Treasure Hunt begins

By Northern Star Staff
April 10, 2023
A cartoon of a hand reaching up through a stack of letters towards text that says Ask Madelaine. This edition of Ask Madelaine looks at what you should do if your best friend is fading away from you.

Ask Madelaine: I miss my best friend

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
April 3, 2023
The NIU School of Theatre and Dance will have its first performance of Life is a Dream at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Sally Stevens Players Theatre, located in the Stevens Building.

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

By Michael Mollsen, Written Managing Editor
February 8, 2023
Vote for your favorites in Best of DeKalb 2023.

[Photo] Northern Star opens voting for Best of DeKalb 2023

By Northern Star Staff
February 1, 2023
The MLK Commons at Northern Illinois University. Northern Stars Madelaine Vikse looks into whether its valuable for students to have a fall break.

Poll: Should NIU have a fall break?

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
January 19, 2023
Illustration design courtesy of May Taing.

Ask Madelaine: Response to Anonymous

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
January 12, 2023
Princess Angel is a 1-year-old cat and is house-trained.

Tails Pet of the Week: Princess Angel

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
December 4, 2022
Individuals voting in DeKalb discuss their voting experience for the 2022 midterm elections.

AP: Underwood, Pritzker keep seats after 2022 midterm elections

By Madelaine Vikse, Abigail Lamoreaux, and Colin Kempsell
November 9, 2022
The Egyptian Theatre is located downtown DeKalb at 135 N. 2nd Street.

[Photo] Egyptian Theatre to host month of horror films

By Sarah Rose, Assistant Lifestyle Editor
September 26, 2022
Tobe is looking for his forever home.

Tails Pet of the Week: Tobe

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
September 20, 2022
Waka Flocka Flame and DJ Whoo Kid will perform at NIUs Homecoming on Oct. 1 (Donald Traill/Invision/Associated Press)

Waka Flocka Flame to perform at Homecoming, tickets on sale

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
September 8, 2022
A photo of the East Lagoon and Altgeld Hall in the distance.

NIU enrollment sees a 3.6% decrease from Fall 2021

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
September 8, 2022

DeKalb Police: Shooting on Ridge Drive results in one dead

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
August 24, 2022
To sign up for alerts text “FreeGroceries” to 8447272012 to sign up. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] DeKalb County mobile food pantry announces new events, text alert system

By Colin Kempsell
August 24, 2022
President Joe Biden is set to announce $10,000 federal student loan cancellation Wednesday (Evan Vucci | Associated Press)

President Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan; who is eligible, student reactions

By Madelaine Vikse and Daija Hammonds
August 24, 2022
Gas prices have declined this week.

[Photo] Weekly gas update: Aug. 22

By Nyah Nowakowski, News Reporter
August 24, 2022
NIUs Hoffman Estates campus opened in 1992 and was the first regional education center to open in the village.

Board of Trustees addresses pending sale of Hoffman Estates campus

By Abigail Lamoreaux and Madelaine Vikse
August 18, 2022
Vicky Books, a kinesiology instructor at NIU, holds up a sign at the groups second protest that took place in late July at the MLK Commons. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU instructors, supporters protest in MLK Commons

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
July 28, 2022
NIU instructors, supporters, UPI meet in MLK Commons to protest wages after no contracts have been finalized with the NIU bargaining team (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: NIU instructors, supporters protest in MLK Commons

By Sean Reed and Madelaine Vikse
July 28, 2022
The walkway between Patterson Hall East and its dining complex. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

NIU votes to rename two buildings

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
July 17, 2022
13 states have trigger laws, which criminalise abortion after the decision was made to overturn Roe v. Wade. The states are Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming

Trigger laws: What they are, how they affect the future

By Elisa Reamer and Madelaine Vikse
July 11, 2022
Tom and Jerry’s, 215 W. Lincoln Highway, is currently up for sale.

[Photo] DeKalb Tom and Jerry’s building for sale

By Joey Trella, Marketing Team Coordinator
June 2, 2022
Vice President of Student Affairs Clint-Michael Reneau spoke in April about how he will make tough decisions if that means students will succeed.

Ingram: Vice President of Student Affairs to be a strong advocate for students

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
May 31, 2022
Bunch of rainbow tulips in brown paper wrap (Getty Images)

Mother’s Day gift ideas

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
May 5, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse and Angelina Padilla-Tompkins
May 5, 2022
Book subscription services are a great way to read a wide variety of books (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Book subscription services perfect for booklovers

By Daija Hammonds, Managing Editor
May 4, 2022
Google Calendar can be useful when it comes to planning and scheduling ahead (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Tips and tricks on how to stay organized with Google Calendar

By Daija Hammonds, Managing Editor
May 1, 2022
Walk a Mile to Support Survivors will begin at the East Lagoon 11 a.m. Saturday (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] DeKalb day planner: April 30

By Grace Barone
April 28, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse and Daija Hammonds
April 28, 2022
Illustration design courtesy of May Taing.

Ask Madelaine: Response to Jessica

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
April 26, 2022
A group of students who attended and celebrated Holi Festival in 2019 post together for a photo (Courtesy of Sharan Shetty)

Holi: Festival of Colors to bring students together, celebrate arrival of spring

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
April 21, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse, Kyron Lewis, and Waleed Alamleh
April 21, 2022
The deadline to take the IDEA survey is April 29. Students and faculty can find the survey by searching Viewfinder Campus Climate Surveys in their email.

[Photo] Division of Academic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion survey to improve campus life

By Parker Otto
April 21, 2022
Drone shot of the butterfly waystation spiral at Mayfield Congregational Church, 28405 East Church Road (Courtesy of Randy Caspersen)

Documentary by NIU professor to be screened at the Egyptian Theatre

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
April 18, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse, DeOndre Saunders, and Daija Hammonds
April 14, 2022
The series Hunter x Hunter is a shonen anime series available on streaming platforms such as Netflix, Peacock, HBO Max and Hulu (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] ‘Hunter x Hunter’ stands out from typical shonen anime

By Quade Evans, Opinion Columnist
April 11, 2022
Internships can provide you with valuable information, but its important to find one that you will enjoy and that is a good fit for you (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] How to find an internship that’s a good fit for you

By Abby Byer
April 10, 2022
NIU offers more than 50 majors for students to pick from (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] The importance of picking a major

By Daija Hammonds, Managing Editor
April 7, 2022
The larger group is near the end of the show, where theyre traveling to the Simorgh. (from left to right) Emma Vaughn, Jack Gordon, Kristen Serbia, Jacob Ihm, Cristian Oñate, Lulu Grey, Jonathan Perkins (on floor) and Abigail Lamoreaux (Zohair Khan | Northern Star)

NIU School of Theatre and Dance captivates audience with ‘The Conference of the Birds’

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
April 5, 2022
NIU School of Theatre and Dance will premiere God of Carnage at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 at the Sally Stevens Players Theatre in the Steven’s Building. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] NIU School of Theatre and Dance to perform plays by Ukrainian playwrights

By Daija Hammonds, Managing Editor
April 2, 2022
James E. Ransome and Lesa Cline-Ransome held a lecture on Wednesday in the Recital Hall in the Music building where they discussed their work in illustration and childrens books. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] DeKalb day planner: April 3

By Grace Barone
March 31, 2022
Transgender Flag held in the sky (Getty Images)

Gender and Sexuality Resource Center to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
March 29, 2022
NIU Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble hosted their first concert of the semester on Oct. 6 in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

NIU School of Music to host Ukraine Benefit Concert

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
March 24, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse and Waleed Alamleh
March 24, 2022
The DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak Street, hosts a variety of workshops and events open to the public (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] DeKalb day planner: March 26

By Grace Barone
March 24, 2022
Illustration design courtesy of May Taing.

Ask Madelaine: Response to ‘Seriously Stressed’

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
March 23, 2022
Jalen Smith attended NIU, where he studied art and illustration (Courtesy of Jalen Smith)

Visionary J re-releases mixtapes ‘Cloud 90’ and ‘Messiah Child’

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
March 22, 2022
Getting over a breakup can be incredibly difficult, but there are some ways to help get over the heartbreak that arent talked about that often (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Unconventional ways to help get over a breakup

By Grace Barone
March 14, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse and Brionna Belcher
March 10, 2022
Shopping for someone who is interested in something you dont have much knowledge in can be difficult (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] 5 gift ideas for anime fans

By Quade Evans, Opinion Columnist
March 8, 2022
Wordle has become a popular online game, recently bought by The New York Times (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] A look at ‘Wordle’: a popular online game with a daily challenge

By Daija Hammonds, Managing Editor
March 7, 2022
Sarah Potter attended grad school where she studies speech pathologist, before working as a speech pathologist for 15 years (Courtesy of Sarah Potter)

Former speech pathologist continues late husband’s documentary dream

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
March 6, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Madelaine Vikse

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
March 4, 2022
Being a college student during the COVID-19 pandemic can be a unique and stressful experience (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Advice from college students to college students

By Bailey Eschbach, Lifestyle writer
March 1, 2022
Out on a Whim Tattoo, 127 East Lincoln Highway, is one of the tattoo shops located in DeKalb (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] DeKalb features variety of tattoo shops

By Grace Barone
February 27, 2022
Joining a club can be a great way to become involved in a fun extracurricular activity (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Getting involved on campus enriches college experience

By Claudie Miller, Lifestyle writer
February 27, 2022
Fattys Pub and Grille has various live events and concerts (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] DeKalb day planner: Feb. 26

By Grace Barone
February 24, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse and Brionna Belcher
February 24, 2022
Illustration design courtesy of May Taing.

Ask Madelaine: Response to Anonymous

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
February 23, 2022
The Huskie Den is located in the Holmes Student Center and is one of the recommended places to study at (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Top 3 places to study at on campus

By Daija Hammonds, Managing Editor
February 22, 2022
A LinkedIn account has become an even more important part of ones ability to network with other individuals (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Tips to improve your LinkedIn profile

By Bailey Eschbach, Lifestyle writer
February 21, 2022
The Netflix home page shows a list of trending shows on a laptop screen.

What I’m watching this weekend: Northern Star Staff

By Madelaine Vikse and Summer Fitzgerald
February 18, 2022
The Junction Eating Place, established in 1969, is a highly-rated diner in DeKalb (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] DeKalb day planner: Feb. 20

By Grace Barone
February 17, 2022
TikTok, Outer Banks and whipped coffee are some trends from the beginning of the pandemic (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] COVID-19 ‘anniversary:’ revisiting trends from the beginning of the pandemic

By Bailey Eschbach, Lifestyle writer
February 15, 2022
The Egyptian Theatre, 1135 N. Second St., hosts movies, musicals and more.

[Photo] The Center for Black Studies sponsors showing of “The Wiz”

By Kyron Lewis, Lifestyle Writer
February 13, 2022
One of the cats at Tails Humane Society next to one of the litter boxes, containing name submissions for the Anti-Valentines Day Fundraiser (Courtesy of Rosie Trump | Tails Humane Society)

Valentine’s Day: Kitty litter karma

By Madelaine Vikse, Editor-in-Chief
February 10, 2022
A vegetable tray is a quick, easy and healthy snack to have out during Super Bowl Sunday (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] Healthy Super Bowl snack ideas and tips

By Bailey Eschbach, Lifestyle writer
February 10, 2022
Hit the Wall is a play written by playwright Ike Holter (Abigail Lamoreaux | Northern Star)

NIU School of Theatre and Dance starts the semester off strong with “Hit the Wall”

By Madelaine Vikse and Abigail Lamoreaux
February 9, 2022
The Yuka app rates products from bad to excellent, based on the products ingredients (Madelaine Vikse | Northern Star)

[Photo] How accurate is the Yuka app?

By Bailey Eschbach, Lifestyle writer
February 8, 2022
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Northern Star

The Northern Star is the student-produced, independent media at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. and is a limited public forum whose content is determined exclusively by its student editors. Information presented on this website and in its print products is not controlled by NIU administration, faculty or staff. The Star publishes online at northernstar.info and sends out its TLDR newsletter Monday through Friday.

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The Northern Star is the student-produced, independent media at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. The Northern Star covers NIU campus news, DeKalb news, NIU Huskie sports and northern Illinois entertainment.

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Northern Star

The Northern Star is the student-produced, independent media at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill. The Northern Star covers NIU campus news, DeKalb news, NIU Huskie sports and northern Illinois entertainment.

Our Coverage

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City

Sports

Opinion

Lifestyle

About Us

The Organization

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