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Monday, March 7, 2016
Northern Star
815-753-5606 H @NIUNorthernStar H NorthernStar.info/Opinion
Students need to participate in program prioritization task forces
Campus Life Building, Room 130 545 Lucinda Ave. DeKalb, Ill., 60115 Web: www.NorthernStar.info Fax: 815-753-0708
Perspective
See what’s a pass and what’s a fail as judged by columnist Hanna Markezich.
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 815-753-9643
Photo Courtesy NIU Alumni Association
Robert Carr, founder of the Give Something Back Foundation, (left) and NIU President Doug Baker pose for a photo after Carr presents NIU with a check for $1 million dollars.
Assistant News Editor: Leah Nicolini Editor@NorthernStar.info Digital Editor: Margaret Maka, Jessica Plessner Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9644 Perspective Editor: Angela L. Pagan Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Sports Editor: Chris Loggins Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Assistant Sports Editor: Thomas Hiley Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-9637 Scene Editor: Darius Parker Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-5606 Photo Editor: Nick Bosshart Editor@NorthernStar.info 815-753-1602 Other 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 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 815-7530108 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.NorthernStar.info.
Pass
Faith Mellenthin | Northern Star
Students should vote early Primary election to be held during break Northern Star Editorial Board
Before students head home or to their spring break destinations next week, they should vote early in the 2016 primary election to make sure their voice is heard. Spring break is from Sunday to March 20, which means many students may not be in DeKalb for the March 15 primary election. Not only will the county’s state attorney and board district be put up to a vote, but candidates for senator and president will also be on the ballot. This is looking to be a historic election every student should want to be part of, especially since hot topics mentioned by candidates include tuition and student loans. There are two different approaches the editorial board suggests students take to make sure their vote is heard. Early voting started in DeKalb County satellite locations on Feb. 29 and will continue up until election day on March 15. If students are registered to vote in DeKalb, there is a early voting polling location in the Holmes Student Center. Illinois allows same-day registration, so students can also register at polling locations if they have yet to register. A good option for students who are registered in their home counties is to vote by mail, which is done by registering and filling out a paper ballot. The deadline to register to vote by mail is Thursday.
$1M scholarships may bring students Because of the Give Something Back Foundation, NIU will be receiving $1 million in scholarship money for future Huskies, which may help improve the enrollment for NIU as more students will be able to afford tuition and fees without seeking multiple forms of aid. Illinois high school students eligible for a Pell Grant could receive a scholarship from the foundation if they keep their GPA above a 3.0, according to a Thursday Northern Star article. This is a great way for NIU to get the attention of high school students who are looking into colleges after graduation.
Kara Mercer | Northern Star File Photo
“In recent elections we’re really seeing our age group, especially college students, really change the tone of the election in I think a powerful level because there’s so many of us, and we’re really changing the results of the election and the impact we had on it,” said Kiran Gill, senior political science major and Student Association director of Governmental Affairs. Gill has held multiple voter registration drives on campus this year.
The Student Association has been active in holding voter registration drives throughout the year and throughout campus. In three hours, 32 students were registered at the voter registration drive Oct. 27 in the New Residence Hall Community Center, said SA Senate Speaker Dillon Domke, according to a Nov. 16 Northern Star article. This means there are at least tens of students registered who need to make sure their voter registration is put to good use. Spring break is no excuse to not get out and vote. There are many opportunities for students to get out the vote before leaving DeKalb before the primary election.
Early voting Early voting began Feb. 29 in DeKalb County satellite locations, including those in the city of DeKalb. To find out when and where you can vote early in DeKalb, go to Page 2. The deadline to apply to vote by mail, before the primary election on March 15, is Thursday. For more information on voting by mail go to bit.ly/1X5jE9t.
Do you have a strong opinion on DeKalb and NIU issues? Apply to be a columnist or cartoonist for the Northern Star at bitly/1n6Y2gX.
Andy Cozzi | Northern Star File Photo
Floyde Wright, DeKalb resident of 45 years, eats a meal Wednesday at Feed’em Soup Community Project.
Fail
Feed’em soup vital to DeKalb citizens Feed’em Soup Community Project is in need of donations and the NIU community should do their part to make sure this organization stays open. Many residents in Dekalb rely on Feed’em Soup to have meals, and the organization does not charge for its services, according to its website. The generosity of this organization is a valuable asset to the DeKalb community. The NIU and DeKalb community need to help Feed’em Soup reach their goal to stay open.