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Northern Star

Northern Illinois University’s student media 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

NIU alum continues to serve the DeKalb community

By Ryan Chodora | February 18, 2013

T.J. Moore, director of DeKalb Public Works, may work in the background, but he takes great pride in helping DeKalb function as a city. Originally from South Elgin, Moore has always called Illinois his home. Once Moore graduated from Larkin High School...

Sniper Elite V2 short, but gameplay makes up for length

By Ryan Chodora | February 17, 2013

A Russian infantryman stands beneath a shelled-out building in war-torn Germany. The man begins to light a cigarette. There’s a muzzle flash, and in the blink of an eye a 7.92x57mm Mauser round fired from a Karabiner 98 German-engineered scoped rifle...

Local musician plays for charity

Local musician plays for charity

By Ryan Chodora | February 10, 2013

John Smith uses his talents and his drive to better the community while also perfecting his musical craft. “I tell most people I’m a scientist,” Smith said. “I’m always experimenting, I’m always looking. What can I learn?” Originally from...

Metro 2033 provides suspense in a post-apocalyptic world

By Ryan Chodora | February 9, 2013

Grab your headlamps and your military-grade ammunition; it’s time to review Metro 2033. Metro 2033 is a first-person survival horror game that takes place in the post-apocalyptic metro tunnels of Moscow. Little is known about the nuclear war that took...

Will Wilson, senior pre-physical therapy major, refills his water bottle from a water fountain in February 2013.

DeKalb water passes IEPA regulations

By Ryan Chodora | February 6, 2013

DeKalb’s drinking water is safe and meets all Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) regulations, regardless of student speculation otherwise, according to reports published by the agency. Questions about the contents and possible contaminants...

NIU students share their Super Bowl experiences

By Ryan Chodora | February 6, 2013

For seven NIU graduate students, Super Bowl Sunday was much more than hot wings and cold beer. Those seven students were given the opportunity to volunteer in New Orleans last week for the Super Bowl. “Overall, it was a wonderful experience,” said...

Local non-profit promotes music for a change

By Ryan Chodora | February 3, 2013

In 2001, John Smith decided that it was time to reintroduce live band music into a community in which it was absent. Just Make It Happen, 337 Knollwood Drive, is a non-profit organization that produces events all around the DeKalb-Sycamore area to preserve...

Local non-profit brings cheer to domestic violence victims

By Ryan Chodora | January 30, 2013

In DeKalb, Santa comes more than once a year. “They call us the Santa people,” said Jacqueline Beck, senior nursing major. Beck is a volunteer at Birthday Boxes, a non-profit organization started by the NIU Honors Program. Beck helps with the overall...

Between the Lines: Alex Nerad

By Ryan Chodora | January 29, 2013

Restoring local history has always been a lifelong passion for DeKalb’s Alex Nerad. Originally from Iowa City, Iowa, Nerad is the executive director at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. Nerad is an NIU alumnus and takes pride in the renovation...

Smokers find money-saving alternatives

By Ryan Chodora | January 21, 2013

Rolling cigarettes makes high prices and taxes on smoking a thing of the past. Rolling cigarettes with pipe tobacco is a cheaper alternative than buying retail cigarettes. The average pack of cigarettes costs $6.94 with taxes in Illinois, while rolling...

Sophomore Illustration major Avery Muether watches music videos on YouTube in her dorm room Tuesday afternoon. A goal of President Peter's Vision 2020 plan is for NIU to improve wireless internet on campus.

Vision 2020 technology goals ahead of schedule

By Josh Green | March 6, 2012

The improvement of Wi-Fi technology, cloud services and other wireless amenities - goals for Vision 2020 - are ahead of schedule in terms of completion. The program has met certain goals, like the opening of Grant North Tower C, which has full Wi-Fi coverage....