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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
Parker Otto

Parker Otto

All content by Parker Otto
A sign for Classic Books sits on the wall of a Garage. Classic Books is a bookstore in downtown DeKalb. (Northern Star File Photo)

[Photo] Classic Books: A garage bookstore, DeKalb staple

By Devin Oommen, News Reporter
September 12, 2023
Blackboard lets students see how their grades compare to their classmates.

Blackboard’s new feature lets students see grade average in classes

By Parker Otto, Columnist
May 3, 2022
Parker Otto sits outside on NIU's campus.

Senior reporter excited for future

By Parker Otto, Senior Reporter
May 3, 2022
A Northern Illinois University motorcoach bus traveling.

NIU to discontinue motorcoach bus system

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 28, 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.

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

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 21, 2022
Reality Bytes is an independent student film festival at NIU.

Embrace, support film festivals

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 17, 2022
Reality Bytes is an independent student film festival. The films shown were made by students and came from different countries (Zohair Khan | Northern Star)

Reality Bytes fascinates audience with films from different countries

By Parker Otto and Daija Hammonds
April 14, 2022
Members of UPI Local 4100, picketing outside of Altgeld Hall Wednesday after NIU officials ceased negotiations with non-tenured instructors earlier this month and have not begun bargaining talks with tenure faculty. Members of both non-tenure and tenure gathered around a table, which signified the university's absence from bargaining talks. UPI Local 4100 represents members of tenured and non-tenured track faculty at NIU, around 750 faculty are members of UPI, Local 4100. (Wes Sanderson| Northern Star)

NIU instructors, faculty picket after no-show contract negotiation

By Parker Otto
April 14, 2022
The dispensary will be a new addition to the chain of dispensaries owned under nuEra Cannabis, which is one of the largest dispensary chains in Illinois. The DeKalb dispensary would add an additional store to the already existing 6 nuEra stores in Illinois.

Dispensary awaits license to sell cannabis in Junction Center

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 12, 2022
Gary Dukes is currently Vice President for Student Affairs at Western Oregon University.

Western Oregon University Vice President for Student Affairs announced as fourth VP candidate

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 12, 2022
The United States needs to pursue greater energy independence and the best way to do that is by pursuing nuclear energy as a primary source of power. 

Nuclear energy: A better source of power

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 11, 2022
The students in the Film Festival Administration class pose with Reality Bytes shirts (Courtesy of Hunter Weston)

Reality Bytes Independent Student Film Festival to be held in person

By Parker Otto, Daija Hammonds, Kyron Lewis, Quade Evans, and Grace Barone
April 10, 2022
If there’s one thing the bottle bill proves, it’s that economic incentives are the key to improving the environment. 

Environment would benefit from Illinois bottle bill

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 10, 2022
Two NIU students sit on a bench at the East Lagoon.

DeKalb offers many spots to enjoy warm weather

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 5, 2022
Founder of Black Male Initiative Donald Bramlett embraces of the many alumni at Saturday's 20th anniversary celebration event.

Black Male Initiative alumni celebrate 20th anniversary

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 3, 2022
Black Lives Matter was painted on Castle Drive in 2020. Currently, the words are barely visible.

Castle Drive: Black Lives Matter mural fades with no restoration plans

By Parker Otto, Columnist
April 3, 2022
A photo of the Altgeld Hall building.

CFO to depart in April, search for interim to commence

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 30, 2022
Columnist Parker Otto stayed in a cabin in Kalkaska, Michigan with a group of friends over Spring Break.

Firsthand account: Spending a weekend in Kalkaska

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 29, 2022
'OK boomer': What it's like being an old soul trapped in a Gen Z body

‘OK boomer’: What it’s like being an old soul trapped in a Gen Z body

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 28, 2022
"Wordle" has become a popular online game, recently bought by The New York Times.

Wordle is a disgrace to society

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 27, 2022
Montez Soliz, a junior political science major, is running for president and will increase transparency and communication with students.

SGA presidential candidate hopes to increase campus involvement

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 27, 2022
Spring is a time for college students to come out of their shell.

Spring weather allows students to reawaken

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 24, 2022
Members of Black Male Initiative. Black Male Initiative is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

Black Male Initiative celebrates 20-year anniversary with upcoming events

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 22, 2022
Canadian geese gather at the lagoon on Monday, November 1st.

Canadian Geese: NIU’s feathered-flying fiends

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 21, 2022
City Manager Bill Nicklas at the City Council meeting Monday, talking about new financial plan that will be used from 2022 through 2024.

City Council unveils possible financial plan

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 20, 2022
Video stores used to sell VHS tapes of movies. They have since been long forgotten due to the digital era we are in.

Video stores are a sacred media that we must honor

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 20, 2022
From Left to right: Laura Heideman, Alex Sosenko and Andy Bruno were among the six faculty members who participated in Tuesday’s Teach-In about the War in Ukraine in 148 DuSable Hall

Ukraine teach-in: ‘Putin had a plan’

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 10, 2022
Movie clapper board on dark background with copy space.

The Academy is insulting to filmmakers

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 9, 2022
Kaitlyn Cheng (Left) looks longingly at the horizon as Irina in "Three Sisters" The play was performed in November at the Sally Stevens Players Theatre in the Stevens Building (Courtesy of Kaitlyn Cheng)

Kaitlyn Cheng shines bright in NIU theatre productions

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 8, 2022
City of DeKalb is working to rework and improve The 2025 Strategic Plan.

Public gets first peek at city’s proposed financial plan on Monday

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 7, 2022
NFT CryptoArt display in art gallery with people using smart phones and digital tablets.

NFTs are for imbeciles

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 5, 2022
The Rocky Horror Show in action on February 18, 2022 at the Egyptian Theatre.

That time I… was a Rocky Horror cast member

By Parker Otto, Columnist
March 2, 2022
February has a lot of quirks to it that make it a very unpopular month.

February is the worst month

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 27, 2022
The Center for Black Studies offers a Black Studies minor and several programs for Black students. The center creates a safe space for NIU's diverse student body for the past 50 years.

Associate Director: ‘If you don’t have a diverse faculty, you can further systemic racism’

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 25, 2022
American history is inherently taught from white people's perspectives, especially throughout K-12 cirriculum.

Unlearning white-washed history is an important duty

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 22, 2022
Gilbert Gottfried at the Writer's Guild of America East Solidarity Rally in Washington Square in 2007.

Comedians are at the forefront of free speech

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 21, 2022
The Village Commons, located at 901 Lucinda Ave., has been a popular spot among students for years.

Students would benefit from a revitalization of Village Commons

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 20, 2022
A littered facemask lays along West Hillcrest Drive in DeKalb.

Flexibility is key in navigating new masking rules

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 15, 2022
A look into a community bathroom inside Neptune West.

OPINION: Dorm bathrooms are atrocious

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 10, 2022
calculator and pen on top of a 1040 tax form. The deadline for filing taxes is April 18.

How to file taxes before deadline

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 9, 2022
As a snowstorm ripped across the Midwest last week, many universities, including NIU, let professors decide whether or not their classes would be held online.

Online classes are a great alternative for snow days

By Parker Otto, Columnist
February 7, 2022
An NIU student takes a break from homework to watch some TikTok videos.

OPINION: TikTok is overrated

By Parker Otto, Opinion Editor
February 4, 2022
Valentine's Day decor hangs up inside of Grant Towers on Saturday, January 30th. Many people think this holiday is very unnecessarily rushed.

Valentine’s Day is overhyped

By Parker Otto, Columnist
January 31, 2022
Movie cases line up on a dusty shelf in a college apartment. Physical copies have gone ancient due to streaming services taking off.

Modernity has erased the physical concept of art

By Parker Otto, Columnist
January 24, 2022
Streaming services are slowly replacing the concept of movie theatres.

Point/Counterpoint: Movie theaters vs streaming platforms

By JaMaria’h Crider and Parker Otto
January 23, 2022
Downtown DeKalb McDonalds is now hiring. They posted that employees can make $14.50 to stand out from other employers.

DeKalb restaurants struggle finding employees amidst labor shortage

By Parker Otto, Columnist
January 16, 2022
Vinyl records are a classic form of art that has died down due to the digital age.

Students need to respect older art

By Parker Otto, Columnist
January 14, 2022
Vinyl records and turntables take the experience of listening to music to a whole new level.

Vinyl records are a musical lifestyle

By Parker Otto, Columnist
January 13, 2022
J.K. Rowling's history of controversial tweets has led "Harry Potter" fans questioning the franchise.

Art should be separated from the artist

By Parker Otto, Columnist
January 10, 2022
Books are a valuable asset to our culture.

Public schools must extinguish book burning

By Parker Otto, Columnist
January 5, 2022
Columnists look forward to 2022 by making their New Year's resolutions.

Fill in the blank: My New Year’s resolution is . . .

By Opinion Staff, Parker Otto, and Summer Fitzgerald
December 31, 2021
Thank you, Karens.

Thank you, Karens

By Parker Otto, Columnist
December 28, 2021
Students walk through the pantry on Thursday, Sept. 30th, 2021.

That Time I…volunteered at a food pantry

By Parker Otto, Columnist
December 21, 2021
Christmas consists of many different traditions, especially putting up a Christmas tree.

There is no ‘War on Christmas’

By Parker Otto, Columnist
December 18, 2021
A clapperboard next to a Santa hat.

Hallmark films are overrated

By Parker Otto, Columnist
December 9, 2021
Students walk to class along Normal Road during a snow storm.

Tips to survive Midwestern winter

By Parker Otto, Columnist
December 7, 2021
A man stands outside with a gun strapped onto his back.

The rising danger of militias

By Parker Otto, Columnist
December 6, 2021
The East Lagoon at NIU will sit empty the first week of the Spring 22 semester. NIU announced the decision to begin online starting Jan. 18. NIU expects to return to normal learning Jan. 25.

Make the most of winter break

By Parker Otto, Columnist
December 2, 2021
As we approach the end of the semester, don't be afraid to reward yourself for meeting big goals.

It’s okay to treat yourself

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 27, 2021
Various coins sit on a shelf.

Budgeting is key in learning financial responsibility

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 23, 2021
Jeremy Knoll, a senior majoring in history at NIU, stands on the site of the Battle of Gettysburg. This summer, Knoll interned with the National Parks Service, conducting tours and educating visitors on the history of the battle.

NIU student volunteers at Gettysburg

By Parker Otto, Lifestyle writer
November 17, 2021
A Black Friday sign in the window of a store.

US should put an end to Black Friday

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 17, 2021
A mask on the ground of NIU's campus. As of Feb. 28, students and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors.

Students need to keep following COVID-19 restrictions

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 16, 2021
Parker Otto sits at an editor's desk in the Northern Star office. During the 2019 fall and spring semesters, Parker was the Lifestyle editor.

That Time I… became a journalist

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 12, 2021
A 'Help Wanted' sign.

Consumers are partly to blame for labor shortage

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 11, 2021
As Daylight Saving Time ends, we all must partake in the arduous process of figuring out how to adjust the clocks of our microwaves and cars,

Daylight Saving Time is unnecessary

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 7, 2021
A pregnant women sits at a desk. Maternity leave is time that mothers take off after childbirth. This time not only allows them to recuperate after such a physically demanding ordeal but also allows time for them to bond with their children.

Maternity leave in US needs major updates

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 2, 2021
Photo taken in Farmer City, IL. Despite being a blue state with a Democrat governor, a majority Democrat General Assembly, mostly Democrat reps and 2 Democrat Senators, there is a growing resentment for the party in rural areas.

Democratic Party should rethink election strategy

By Parker Otto, Columnist
November 1, 2021
Bob Otto frequently enjoys basking in the sun.

That Time I… adopted a barn cat

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 29, 2021
A laptop screen shows someone writing a hateful post.

Engaging with online negativity is unhealthy

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 26, 2021
A Reality Bytes Film Festival poster.

That Time I… worked for the Reality Bytes Film Festival

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 22, 2021
Letter tiles reading fake or fact.

Internet memes can spread misinformation

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 20, 2021
Wearing pajamas to class is only acceptable in virtual spaces, columnist Parker Otto believes.

Unpopular opinion: Stop wearing pajamas to class

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 15, 2021
An empty prison cell.

The death penalty needs to be abolished in all 50 states

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 14, 2021
The NIU School of Theatre and Dance will begin running performances of "Edward II" Friday at the Sally Stevens Theatre at NIU.

Students should experience fine arts on campus

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 12, 2021
Students should be more engaged in the classroom

Students should be more engaged in the classroom

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 7, 2021
One of the pigs raised by the family, named Kevin.

That time I… raised six pigs

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 4, 2021
A view of the balcony seating mural in the Egyptian Theatre.

That time I… first visited the Egyptian Theatre

By Parker Otto, Columnist
October 1, 2021
A remote control being used to change the channel on a tv.

Unpopular Opinion: Seinfeld is better than Friends

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 29, 2021
Even with digital platforms such as email, effective and professional communication is necessary.

Effective communication is key, regardless of medium

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 27, 2021
The metric system is used across the globe, but the U.S. has still not joined the rest of the modern world

Opinion: America needs to get with the metric system

By Parker Otto, Opinion Columnist
September 24, 2021
One additional student tests positive for COVID-19, ten students recover

Masks are uncomfortable… but necessary

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 21, 2021
Person watches movie in open cinema in green nature.

Foreign films have big potential in America

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 18, 2021
A half-finished Chicago deep dish pizza.

Unpopular opinion: Deep dish pizza sucks

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 17, 2021
A parking lot with a few spaces left for drivers to park in.

Opinion: Rethink student parking

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 13, 2021
A visitor to the Flight 93 National Memorial visitor center, in Shanksville, Pa, stand on an observation platform overlooking the crash site of Flight 93 at sunset Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, as the nation prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

That time I… went to the Flight 93 National Memorial

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 11, 2021
Pieces to the game Dungeons and Dragons

Tabletop gaming for the win

By Parker Otto, Columnist
September 8, 2021
The senior woman in leprechaun hat for a Saint Patrick's Day.

The origin of St. Patrick’s Day

By Parker Otto, Reporter
March 17, 2021
Chess pieces on a chess board stand ready to be played. Students have created a chess club to connect with like-minded players around the community.

Students create Northern Illinois Chess Club

By Parker Otto, Reporter
March 17, 2021
Chipotle is at 1013 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb.

Kappa Delta Chi to hold Chipotle fundraiser

By Parker Otto, Reporter
March 16, 2021
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