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Thursday, March 3, 2016
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Important spring holidays have become too commercialized
Perspective
See what’s a pass and what’s a fail as judged by columnist Faith Mellenthin.
Pass Severe weather tips helpful to students To recognize Severe Weather Preparedness week, NIU has sent out several messages to inform students about emergency procedures. These weather safety tips show NIU actively cares and tries to keep students safe even in the most unexpected and uncontrollable situations. The NIU 3D Interactive Campus Map, found on the NIU website, is very user friendly and shows all the safe areas around campus. I was very surprised and satisfied to see there was a tornado shelter in every NIU facility on the map. NIU has been able to make students feel safe with the use of the Emergency Notification System that sends messages to each person directly when an emergency occurs on or near campus.
Fail
Hanna Markezich | Northern Star
Student employment may help replace some MAP grant funding Kaylyn Zielinski Columnist
Students may think only focusing on school is best, but having a job while attending a university is beneficial. While grants and scholarships can help pay for college, it is difficult for many students to earn enough from them to fully pay their tuition. Scholarships are not always an option. The average tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased by 13 percent from 2010-11 to 2015-16, according to the College Board website. Loans may be a quick way to
Northern Star Campus Life Building, Room 130 545 Lucinda Ave. DeKalb, Ill., 60115 Web: www.NorthernStar.info Fax: 815-753-0708 Editorial Board Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Editorial Board; columns reflect the opinion of the author alone. Editor in Chief & Publisher: Jackie Nevarez Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0105 Managing Editor: Rachel Scaman Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-0177 News Editor: Alexander Chettiath Editor@NorthernStar.info
pay for the remaining amount of while attending classes,” said tuition and fees, but they can add Jack King, director of Student up after graduation. Professional Development. The Illinois MAP grant is a state-funded grant that many I’m going to have to students receive based on finanincrease my hours at work cial need to assist in paying for or even pick up another college. Gov. Bruce Rauner rejob.” cently vetoed a bill that would Samantha Schweihs fund MAP grants and award NIU Junior broadcast journalism major $72,847,200, according to a Feb. 22 Northern Star article. “[To make up for the loss of the In 2014, students from NIU MAP grant] I’m going to have to graduated with an average of the increase my hours at work or even $33,324 in debt and 77 percent of pick up another job,” said Samangraduates from NIU in 2014 had tha Schweihs, junior broadcast graduated with debt, according to journalism major. the Institution for College Access Some benefits of working in and Success website. college include learning how to Instead of turning to loans, stu- budget time outside of classes, dents should try to work part-time. gaining experience and building “I think students have no a resume. Part-time jobs can result choice these days but to work in skills that will benefit students
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for the rest of their college career and future. It might be difficult to find jobs specific to future careers while attending classes, but students should look for internships and any type of work experience to build their resume. “Every job can be beneficial, even jobs that are terrible jobs that you’ve [had],“ King Said. “You’ll learn what you like and what you don’t like.” Huskies Get Hired is a great resource for students looking for jobs and internships. The service posts jobs and internships available to students and it also has a tool to help students create a resume. There are plenty of opportunities out there for students to increase their work experience and make college more affordable so I suggest they take advantage of this as best they can. formation 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.
Men’s basketball needs loyal fans
Supporters of the NIU men’s basketball team should consistently show their support by attending games even when the team is experiencing an unfortunate losing streak. The last three home games had a very drastic attendance difference. Attendance was at 3,457 for the Feb. 13 home game, according to the NIU Athletics website. This number dropped to 1,148 people by the next home game on Feb. 16. After the most recent home game, attendance spiked back up to 3,019. Fans may not have abandoned the team, but they could definitely be more consistent whether the Huskies are winning or losing.
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