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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

A photo depicts a person holding a sign that says "Stop starving Gaza's children" on Sept. 5 while people walk across the street in Washington, D.C. Opinion Columnist Ethan Ernst argues that too many innocent people will die if Israel goes all in on destroying Hamas. (Totus Tuus Keely | Northern Star)

Opinion: War does not bring peace

By Ethan Ernst, Opinion Columnist | September 14, 2025

Bombs are pounding Gaza as Israel goes all-in on destroying Hamas once and for all. Hamas is on the backfoot, but Israel will not find the success it hopes for. Israel has hardly been secretive about its desire for a total victory over Hamas. The first...

President Donald Trump walks from the White House to the Trump National Golf Club on May 22 in Washington D.C., Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti argues that everything the Trump Administration has done over the summer has been a failure. (Reuters | Evelyn Hockstein

Opinion: Trump’s summer agenda culminated in failure

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | September 8, 2025

The last few months have been turbulent for national and international politics. Despite the intense efforts of government propaganda and private channels aligned with the Trump administration, such as Fox News, there have been several undeniable failures. Let’s...

An NIU student stands during a Palestine protest on April 23 holding a Palestinian flag and a sign that says "Democrats fund the genocide of Palestinians.” Opinion Columnist Alyssa Aarvig argues that supporting Palestine isn't inherently anti-Semitic. (Northern Star File Photo)

Opinion: Palestinian Support is not Inherently antisemitic

By Alyssa Aarvig, Opinion Columnist | September 1, 2025

It is extremely necessary to stop labeling supporting Palestinians as antisemitic. The belief that these two phenomena are inherently tied together at all times is unethical and illogical. Conflicts between Palestine and Israel predate 1947. According...

A photo depicts protesters holding signs at a Pro-Palestine rally. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti argues that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will only be temporary. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will not last

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | February 28, 2025

After almost two years of war, Israel and Hamas have signed a hostage release-ceasefire deal on Jan. 17. However, there are multiple reasons to believe that this agreement is only a fragile pause that both sides will take to make a strategic rearrangement,...

A protestor holds the Israeli flag during a protest following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of the Israeli Defense Minister Nov. 5. Opinion Columnist Santiago Montañez Bertoletti warns that if Israel continues to navigate conflicts with little regard for human life, it’ll be no better than the terrorist organizations it aims to defeat. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

Israel crosses dangerous moral lines

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | November 18, 2024

Editor's note: This column contains triggering content relating to war.  Israel has begun what it considers its final crusade, but the nation must act with more humanity as it navigates – and furthers – various conflicts.  Israeli Prime Minister...

Protesters march with Palestine flags during the first intifada in Dec. 1987 within the Gaza Strip. Hamas was formed as a Palestinian militant group in 1987 by Ahmed Yassin during the intifada, which was a Palestinian rebellion against Israeli occupation. (Efi Sharir / Dan Hadani collection / National Library of Israel / The Pritzker Family National Photography Collection)

Understand Hamas’ origins before condemning Israel

By Santiago Montañez Bertoletti, Opinion Columnist | April 29, 2024

The war between Hamas and Israel reached a horrible point in January with the seizure of the hospital Al-Shifa by Israeli forces and division of the Gaza Strip. Some defend Hamas but do not realize the terrible and crass mistake of not condemning Hamas:...

Three students stand at podiums while presenting and talking. The SGA approved a resolution on Dec. 1 addressing students impacted by the Israel-Hamas war. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

SGA reworks Israel-Hamas statement, acknowledges students

By Brandon Clark, Senior News Reporter | December 3, 2023

DeKALB – After failing to pass a petition, the SGA made good on promises to support student concerns over the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. A resolution condemning any behavior that invalidates and endangers those grieving from the recent events of the...

Three students stand at podiums while presenting and talking. The SGA rejected a proposed statement and petition intended to address Muslim student concerns about the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on Nov. 10. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

SGA fails statement, petition for lack of Jewish voices

By Rachel Cormier, Assistant News Editor | November 12, 2023

DeKALB – The SGA rejected its proposed statement regarding the Israel-Hamas war written in response to Muslim students’ safety. The association rejected a similar petition, which would have recommended NIU provide educational and mental health...

Three students stand at podiums while presenting and talking. The SGA tabled the decision to release a statement on the association's position on the Israel-Hamas conflict for the next meeting on Nov. 10. (Joey Trella | Northern Star)

SGA addresses student concerns on Israel-Hamas crisis

By Rachel Cormier, Assistant News Editor | November 5, 2023

Editor's Note: This piece was updated to reflect that Hensley stated that he issued 3 warnings, not 33. DeKALB – Students filled the back rows of Friday’s SGA meeting, awaiting the approval of a statement addressing SGA’s position on the ongoing...

Palestinians walk by destroyed buildings in the outskirts of Gaza city. A conflict between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing since a surprise attack on Oct.7. (Ali Mahmoud | AP)

NIU professors discuss conflict between Israel, Hamas

By Devin Oommen, Senior News Reporter | October 20, 2023

Editor’s note: The intention of this article is to give insight into how academics at NIU are reacting and responding to the conflict. This article does not reflect the opinions of Northern Star staff.  DeKALB – As the death toll passed 5,000...

Congress should be mindful of anti-Semitic bill proposals

By Ali Qazi | January 13, 2019

Majority of Americans are focusing on the shutdown while majority of Republican senators are focusing on foreign policy. Israel’s sharp eye on Capitol Hill is not anything new. History tells us Israel has always wanted one thing: the rights of Americans...

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