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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 female student reads a book in the library. Reading often can help improve your literacy as time goes on. (Getty Images)

Literacy rates decline among college students

By Cheryl Seguin, Lifestyle Writer | September 1, 2025

College students are increasingly struggling with a skill long considered fundamental to academic success: Reading. Experts, such as David Paige, a professor of literacy education at NIU, said the problem does not begin in higher education. “It really...

To become more empathic, it has been suggested to read more fiction books.

Reading fiction helps develop empathy

By Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Opinion Columnist | October 10, 2022

It’s a rainy dreary day and you have nowhere to be, so you pull out your favorite novel and begin to read. What many might not know is that, through the action of reading a fiction novel, you are learning how to empathize with others.  Americans...

A photograph of 5 easy books to read during the spring semester.

5 short, easy books to read over the busy semester

By Daija Hammonds, Lifestyle writer | January 18, 2022

It’s the start of a new semester meaning less time to read for personal enjoyment and more time going to classes and being active on campus. Here are five short books that won’t take up most of your busy time, but will help reach your reading goals.  “Death...

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Study Scores

By Victoria Lambton | October 30, 2017

Thinkstock. 

‘Polarity’ comic impresses Say Anything fans

By Aymie Telinski | April 8, 2013

We live in a world where we’re told we can do or be anything--by day we can be the lead singer for Say Anything, but by night, who knows?--maybe we can write some comic books about being bipolar. The first of four issues of the comic book Polarity by...

Campus Child Care Center hosts Scholastic Book Fair

By Deanna Frances | March 27, 2013

The Campus Child Care Center is working to promote reading standards by selling books this week. The Campus Child Care Center, is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday to help raise funds for...

E-books offer convenience, lack utility

By AJ Edwards | March 21, 2013

To e-book or not to e-book? That is the question. These days, many classes taught at NIU offer students the opportunity to access either a free or purchased textbook online versus buying from the VCB or the Holmes Student Center bookstore. Some students...

‘Unremembered’ novel delivers unforgettable story

By Kevin Bartelt | March 17, 2013

Spring break was the perfect time to catch up on all the books you haven’t had time to read (thanks, midterms). With so many great options, it can be difficult to make a good choice. Fortunately, author Jessica Brody has made that decision a little...

‘Polarity’ comic book to please Say Anything fans

By Aymie Telinski | February 27, 2013

There is nothing I love more in life than when one of my favorite singers announces they are doing a project that is so unrelated to music. When Max Bemis, the lead singer of the band Say Anything, announced he was coming out with not one comic book but...

Reading habits for students changed

By Erin Kolb | August 27, 2012

Reading habits among students may be changing with the popularity of eReaders. Chalermsee Olson, associate dean for collections and technical services at Founders Memorial Library, who’s worked at the library for about six years, said students have...

Big Read gets ‘Wild’ at DeKalb Public Library

By Jerene-Elise Nall | October 18, 2010

All this month, the DeKalb Public Library is participating in an event called The Big Read. "The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts that was developed because the National Endowment for the Arts commissioned a study that...

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