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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star
Sofia Didenko

Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist

All content by Sofia Didenko
A graphic shows three bubbles containing a house, a person working at a computer and a map marker, representing the first, second and third places respectively. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko believes that both the NIU campus and the surrounding DeKalb area could benefit from the incorporation of more third places: areas of relaxation and socialization. (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

DeKalb needs more third-spaces

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
November 21, 2024
A graphic shows a turkey centered in the middle of various autumnal leaves. What's the best way to spend Thanksgiving break? (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

Poll: What is the best way to spend Thanksgiving break?

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
November 19, 2024

Cooking With the Star: Ukrainian garden salad

By Sofia Didenko and Brynn Krug
November 12, 2024
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris claps her hands and smiles while speaking Sunday at a rally on the Michigan State University Campus. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko hopes voters will remember Donald Trump’s attacks on Harris’ initiative are clearly misplaced with a better understanding of the vice president’s role in the White House. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Educate yourself on the vice presidency

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
November 3, 2024
Northern lights dance red and purple in the night DeKalb sky. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko gained a new appreciation for DeKalb’s small town beauty when the aurora borealis visited, a phenomenon she’d expected to witness in Iceland. (Sofia Didenko | Northern Star)

Chasing northern lights

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
October 24, 2024
A couple of autumnal leaves and a branch carrying a bird sit beneath the words "Look Both Ways" and above the topic of the week. Is spring or fall semester best? (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Spring versus fall semester

By Ethan Ernst and Sofia Didenko
October 16, 2024
A medical professional consults a patient while arrows point to cartoons of a heart, medicine and a thermometer. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko encourages students to get a checkup in order to prevent the spread of sickness come this winter season. (Jackson Shields | Northern Star)

Get a checkup this sniffly season

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
October 9, 2024
The front of a local Wingstop plastered with invitations to try their wings. Which Wingstop flavor is the best? (Marco Alvarez | Northern Star)

Poll: Battle of the wings

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
October 8, 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)

No major is useless

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
September 29, 2024
Presidential nominees Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump shake hands before the start of the Sept. 10 ABC News presidential debate in Philadelphia. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko believes Harris won the debate by handling Trump’s typical debate tactics, including red herrings and name-calling, with grace and maturity. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file)

Harris demonstrated reliable leadership in debate

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
September 23, 2024
A sketching hand and clapperboard are shown inside a TV beneath the word “Look Both Ways” and above the topic of the week: Animation versus live-action TV. Is animated or live-action TV more engaging for viewers? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Animation versus live action

By Jackson Shields and Sofia Didenko
September 23, 2024
Cash and a credit card are separated by a “versus” symbol beneath the words “Look Both Ways” and the topic of the week: Should society go cashless? Credit cards may be much more environmentally friendly, but cash has greater security against cybercrimes. (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Look Both Ways: Should society go cashless?

By Jackson Shields and Sofia Didenko
September 16, 2024
A figure stares at their closet while a thought bubble over their head reads: “What am I supposed to WEAR?” Clothing is often unfairly labeled as too childish or too elderly. (Jayce Weir| Northern Star)

Don’t just ‘dress your age,’ dress for you

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
September 16, 2024
Four quadrants display different methods of public transportation, including: ferries, trains, buses, bikes and scooters. What method of public transportation is your favorite? (Lucy Atkinson | Northern Star)

Poll: What’s your favorite method of public transportation?

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
September 10, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a session of the Eastern Economic Forum Thursday in Vladivostok, Russia. Opinion Columnist Sofia Didenko was disappointed in the International Olympic Committee’s failure to uphold its ban of Russian athletes who supported Putin’s stance on the Ukraine-Russian war in the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

2024 Olympics should’ve held Russian athletes accountable

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
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)

Too cool for Ukrainian school

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
September 4, 2024
Two images show President Joe Biden (left) speaking on May 2 and former president Donald Trump speaking on May 1. Generation Z shouldn’t be distracted by outrageous personalities, such as on social media and at rallies, in the upcoming general election. (Alex Brandon, Morry Gash | AP Photo)

Outrageous personalities don’t equate good presidents

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
May 5, 2024
A soldier stands facing a massive explosion. War has severe environmental consequences that must be considered by environmental activists. (Gabriel Fiorini | Northern Star)

Shift environmental focus to wars

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
April 24, 2024
The aisles of the Huskie Food Pantry sit full of food. The Huskie Food Pantry offers free food for NIU students on Wednesdays and Thursdays. (Sofia Didenko | Northern Star)

Eating at Huskie Food Pantry for a week

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
April 16, 2024
The band Boba Haus performs on stage March 1 in the Huskie Den during its concert. Boba Haus is composed of five NIU students and has been slowly gaining traction throughout campus. (Courtesy of Boba Haus)

Boba Haus brews new music

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
April 15, 2024
Reginald Thomas, the director of the NIU Jazz Orchestra, highlights the orchestra by extending his arm toward it. The orchestra played a concert Wednesday with the NIU Jazz Ensemble. (Sam Dion | Northern Star)

NIU jazz plays tribute to Ronald Carter

By Nick Glover and Sofia Didenko
March 7, 2024
Eight students smile while hanging onto a rock climbing wall. NIU's Climbing Club has been an official sports club since 2022 and is open to all students. (Sofia Didenko | Northern Star)

Hold on, hang out with NIU’s Climbing Club 

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
February 20, 2024
A graphic depicts a line of houses behind Housing Fair information. Northern Star's Housing Fair helps students who are looking to find a house and/or apartment in DeKalb. (Northern Star Flyer)

Gear up for Northern Star’s Housing Fair

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
February 12, 2024
The outside of Burger Naan depicts a light-up open sign visible through the restaurant's windows. Burger Naan is a family owned Indian restaurant located in downtown DeKalb. (Sofia Didenko | Northern Star)

Burger Naan offers warm environment, traditional Indian food

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
February 7, 2024
Brochures and pamphlets hang on a wall inside NIU's Outdoor Adventures office. Outdoor Adventures offers a variety of activities and resources that can meet any free-spirited student. (Sofia Didenko)

Adventure together with Outdoor Adventures

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
February 6, 2024
TJ Hill, the regional director of Semester at Sea, sits at an informational desk at the Holmes Student Center on Thursday. Semester at Sea is a program that offers students a study abroad experience that visits many countries while taking classes on a cruise ship. (Sofia Didenko | Northern Star)

Study abroad cruise available for NIU students

By Sofia Didenko, Opinion Columnist
January 28, 2024
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