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Thursday, April 9, 2015
Northern Star
815-753-5606 H @NIUNorthernStar H NorthernStar.info/Opinion
2015-2016 undergraduate catalog should be easily available
Letter to the Editor Letters to the Editor are the author’s opinion alone.
Campus Life Building, Room 130 545 Lucinda Ave. DeKalb, Ill., 60115 Web: www.NorthernStar.info Fax: 815-753-0708
Transit director thanks students
Editorial Board Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board; columns reflect the opinion of the author alone. Editor in Chief & Publisher: Kelly Bauer Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0105 Managing Editor: Keith Hernandez Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0177
Brett Williams Student Association director of Mass Transit
News Editor: Jackie Nevarez Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9643 Digital Editor: Margaret Maka Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9644 Perspective Editor: Rachel Scaman Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Sports Editor: Frank Gogola Sports@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Scene Editor: Sabreena Saleem Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-5606 Photo Editor: Ryan Ocasio Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-1602 Other Assistant Scene Editor: Darius Parker 815-753-5606
Faith Mellenthin | Northern Star
Advertising Manager: Derek Noel Ads@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0108 Circulation Manager: Andrew Parnell 815-753-0707 Adviser: Shelley Hendricks 815-753-4239 Business Adviser: Maria Krull 815-753-0707 Departments Newsroom: 815-753-0105 Advertising: 815-753-0107 Classifieds: 815-753-0707 About us The Northern Star is a limited public forum whose content is determined exclusively by its student editors. Information presented in this newspaper and its website is not controlled by NIU administration, faculty or staff. The Northern Star has a circulation of 10,000 Mondays and Thursdays. It publishes online at NorthernStar.info every day. A single copy of the Northern Star is free. Additional copies are 50 cents. Letters to the editor Letters should not exceed 300 words and may be edited for clarity and brevity. The deadline for a letter is 4 p.m. one day before the desired date of publication. Submissions may be held due to space limitations. Letters written by students should include the author’s year and major. Letters should include a phone number where the author can be reached. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters may be submitted to Editor@NorthernStar.info. Advertisement policy The Northern Star does not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, handicapped or veteran status, or sexual orientation. Nor does the Northern Star knowingly print ads that violate any local, state or federal laws. To place an advertisement, contact the Northern Star advertising team at 815753-0108 or ads@NorthernStar.info. To view advertising rates, go to NorthernStar.info/site/advertise/. Hiring Student employees must carry a minimum of six NIU semester hours and must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Students of all majors and experience levels are welcome to apply. Apply at www.NorthernStarJobs.info.
Perspective
In the four years I have been attending NIU, I’ve never been more proud of my fellow peers than during my time as your director of Mass Transit. The HUSKIELINE focus groups have been able to touch on something much deeper than just student transit. It’s about showing faculty and staff alike that students not only have good ideas, but they have relevant ideas that can have an immediate positive impact on the student body. During my first days as director of Mass Transit I saw students on the transit system in a negative; however, because of the Student Association’s overall team effort of remarketing the HUSKIELINE, I personally have seen students’ attitudes toward transit change dramatically to a more positive light. I have always said my fellow students provide the best input and I am proud to see my faith in the student body proven right. I can only hope the next director of Mass Transit will continue these efforts so students, in years to come, will have their voices heard.
Star empowers all to tell their stories Northern Star Editorial Board
Rachel Scaman | Northern Star
Thinkstock
iPhone has updated its emoji keyboard with 300 emojis with a variety of skin colors users can choose. The update added 32 flag emojis, as well.
One aldermanic race didn’t even receive 100 votes on Tuesday. The small amount of people who voted is unacceptable, writes Perspective Editor Rachel Scaman.
See what’s a pass and what’s a fail as judged by Perspective Editor Rachel Scaman.
Pass
Fail
New iPhone emojis diverse, connect with all Apple users
Low voter turnout in DeKalb aldermanic elections not OK
iPhone has updated its emoji keyboard to feature emojis with different skin colors. I applaud the decision to make diverse emojis. The update brings 300 possible emojis with a variety of skin colors. This not only gives people more emoji options, but it makes the emojis more realistically diverse. This is a good step for Apple since its users come from different ethnic backgrounds and it’s important to see more ethnicities being supported. Before the update, iPhone offered at least
The small amount of people who voted in the 2015 DeKalb aldermanic election is appalling, especially since one race didn’t even reach 100 votes. Newly elected 5th ward Alderwoman Kate Noreiko’s 247 votes defeated Michael Haji-Sheikh’s 220 votes and Cameron Zelaya’s 102 votes. First ward Alderman David Jacobson earned 116 votes and ran unopposed. Seventh ward Alderwoman Monica O’Leary’s 46 votes defeated Craig Roman’s 45 votes. It’s important for the
30 emojis with white faces. Only a few emojis depicted other races before the update. The update also includes new language choices for Siri, including Russian, Danish and Dutch. Flag emojis from 32 countries like Austrailia, Brazil and Chile were added. People have been waiting on this update for a long time to give users more options and the phone more diversity. I’m glad the update has finally made an appearance. Apple definitely took a step in the right direction for its iPhone users.
DeKalb community’s voice to be heard and the aldermen are the ones who voice everyone’s opinions. These numbers don’t show the DeKalb community being very involved in the aldermanic election. Aldermen are the people who sit on the City Council and make legislative decisions for the city of DeKalb. Everyone who can vote should have voted in the elections. Next year, take part in the elections. To become a registered voter, go to dekalbcounty.org.
Those who experience sexual assault are silenced far too often. The Northern Star wants to give them a voice. As April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Northern Star Editorial Board is inviting members of the community who have faced sexual assault to share their stories and struggles in letters. Anyone may participate. There is no word limit. If the writers choose, letters may be published anonymously to avoid people being revictimized by having their name revealed. Letters will be published in the Perspective section of the newspaper, where the community has always made its voice heard through letters to the editor. If you wish to participate, email Editor@NorthernStar.info with questions, comments and, if you are so inclined, your story.
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