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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student news organization since 1899

 

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Family members and friends of victims of the 2008 shooting, alongside NIU community members, stand together as a crowd during the 15-year memorial, held at 3:06 p.m. as the bells of the Holmes Student Center echoed through campus. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: NIU looks forward, together 15 years after tragic shooting

By Sean Reed, Photo Editor | February 14, 2023

DeKALB – A vigil was held Tuesday in remembrance of the victims of the Feb. 14, 2008 shooting that took place within the walls of Cole Hall that chilling Valentine’s Day. 15 years later, the university holds its annual “Forward Together Forward”...

The Castle Drive Black Lives Matter mural after being painted in 2020 (top) and in April 2022 after two years of fading due to weather. On Friday, the Student Government Association proposed a petition for NIU to address concerns such as performative activism and representation of diversity in NIUs staff. (Northern Star File Photo)

SGA proposed petition criticizes NIU’s efforts at inclusion

By Evan Mellon, News Reporter | February 5, 2023

DeKALB - Amid growing concerns of what it's calling NIU’s inactivity toward racism and lack of diversity on campus, the Student Government Association has proposed a petition to shed light on student concerns. The proposed petition was co-authored...

Afternoon snow settles onto the Greek Row houses of Greenbrier Drive just off campus. NIUs Presidential Task Force on the Revitalization of Greek Life has presented their findings and recommendations in a report to the University after a year of research. (Nyla Owens | Northern Star)

NIU task force recommends how to save Greek life

By Caleb Johnson, Lifestyle Writer | February 5, 2023

DeKALB – A task force created by NIU President Lisa Freeman, dedicated to revitalizing and improving Greek life, gave its findings to the university after research and data gathering from various subcommittees during the 2021-2022 academic year. According...

NIU President Lisa Freeman (center) discussing student involvement in NIUs Greek Life beside Associate Director for Institutional Communications, Joe King, during her meeting with the Northern Star on Monday at her office in Altgeld Hall. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

President Freeman talks tenure changes and more in university goals

By Bridgette Fox, Written Managing Editor | January 24, 2023

DeKALB – NIU President Lisa Freeman’s university goals, which the Board of Trustees will use to evaluate her performance at the end of 2023, spoke about future standards – including broadening the criteria for tenure. “I think we believe that...

A graphic featuring a photo of NIU men’s basketball playing against Central Michigan University last week on Tuesday at the NIU Convocation Center. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: Sports between the semesters

By Sean Reed, Photo Editor | January 16, 2023

NIU President Lisa Freeman, NIU volleyball head coach Sondra Parys and NIU Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier hold an NIU volleyball jersey bearing the No. 7, representing Parys status as the Huskies seventh head coach in program history. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

NIU welcomes Sondra Parys to Huskie country

By Skyler Kisellus, Sports Reporter | January 12, 2023

DeKALB – Standing at the podium in front of the crowd gathered at Victor E. Court during her first appearance as the new head coach of NIU volleyball on Tuesday, Sondra Parys shared a brief moment with her father, Joe. “I know you’ve always wanted...

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

In a special meeting called on Thursday, the NIU Board of Trustees confirmed that the Hoffman Estates campus, 5555 Trillium Blvd, has a potential buyer and that the university should close on the sale quickly. On March 18, 2021, the Board had determined...

Plans for the sustainability center began in 2018, and the center may be up and running by 2026.

NIU to construct $23 million sustainability center under State of Illinois’ direction

By Abigail Lamoreaux, Chief Copy Editor | August 2, 2022

DeKALB — The State of Illinois has recently announced that its project to create a sustainability center on NIU’s campus has been given the green light. The seed for the project was planted in October 2018 under the Illinois Innovation Network and...

President Lisa Freeman discusses potential program offered by Braven in collaboration with NIU at the Thursday Board of Trustees meeting. (Zohair Khan | Northern Star)

Braven Inc. prepares underserved students for job market

By Ally Formeller | April 7, 2022
Board of Trustees approved a new course that will give students the necessary skills to succeed in the job market
NIU President Lisa Freeman spoke on the universities strategies to adress “equity gaps,” educational strategies and obstacles caused by COVID-19 during her State of the University speech in November.

Explaining Freeman’s long-term goals for university

By Ally Formeller | February 6, 2022

DeKALB – NIU President Lisa Freeman announced her goals for the 2021-2022 academic year in a Board of Trustees meeting last November. The goals presented to the Board of Trustees include annual and multi-year objectives in six different themes.  For...

5 more students test positive for COVID-19

Temporary in-person class shutdown is a positive move by university

By Danielle Elliott | September 17, 2020

NIU President Lisa Freeman sent out an email Friday to inform students that the university will temporarily be moving undergraduate courses online for two weeks due to the quick rise in students testing positive for COVID-19.  We are now nearly a...

Three students and no employees test positive for COVID-19.

Students must do better to stop spread of COVID-19

By Summer Fitzgerald | September 2, 2020

It is no secret that attending college during a pandemic is one of the most unexpected hardships to go through. Trying to balance community health while still attempting to live out the “best years of your life” is a struggle many young adults are...