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Monday, April 18, 2016
Northern Star
815-753-5606 H @NIUNorthernStar H NorthernStar.info/Opinion
Perspective
OneCards should not be valid after a student has left NIU
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Faith Mellenthin | Northern Star
Students should seek locally grown foods
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Kara Mercer Columnist
Students should use the many resources the DeKalb community offers to learn about and consume locally grown food if they want to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Buying locally grown food is a healthier option for students on and off campus. Sustainably produced fruits and vegetables are often fresher, as they do not require long distance transport and can be harvested closer to peak ripeness which is when food contains the most nutrients, according to the Grace Communications Foundation’s website. Grace Communications Foundation is an organization dedicated to raising awareness on the environmental and public health issues brought about by industrial food systems and tries to present alternatives to the public, according to its website. Students who do not live on campus can soon use the website “Buy Local DeKalb”, which will feature a map to show consumers where to find organic products within 50 miles of DeKalb, according to an April 11 Northern Star article.
Until the website launches in May, students can walk over to the Martin Luther King Jr. Commons for healthy lunch options. Jim Casey, Rolling Harvest Food Truck owner, uses locally sourced produce to bring delicious and healthy food to NIU students at an affordable price, according to its website. The Rolling Harvest Food Truck is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in the MLK Commons.
the DeKalb County Community Gardens. One purpose of the garden is to increase education about sustainable farming practices and the importance of locally grown food production, according to the NIU website. The DeKalb Food Hub is an establishment that will buy vegetables or fruit produced by local growers and sell it to buyers like grocery stores or NIU, said Melissa Burlingame, former program coordinator for the Institute for Study of the Environment, I would personally love to Sustainability and Energy. have a farmer’s market... I encourage NIU to partner It’s one of the things I was with the DeKalb Food Hub once missing from home.” it opens so NIU can provide more locally grown food to students livRoger Jones Junior environmental ing in the residence halls. studies major Also, a farmer’s market on campus would be a great way to Students with meal plans promote the “Buy Local DeKalb” can still eat locally grown food website and get students interested because Dining Services hopes in locally grown food production. to incorporate more ingredients “I would personally love to have grown in the community garden a farmer’s market,” said Roger and feature it on menus in the Jones, junior environmental studresidence halls, said Residential ies major. “... It’s one of the things Dining director Richard Fritz. I was missing from home.” “One of the pieces that [HousPlenty of resources are curing and Dining is] working with rently available to students so they is the local community garden can begin their search for locally that we have on campus,” Fritz grown produce to incorporate said. “It’s the idea that we teach into meals with more resources sustainability to our students.” coming in the future. Students The Communiversity Gardens should learn about different prois located on the east side of duce options so they can choose Anderson Hall and is part of a healthier food that will lead them network of gardens that make up to a healthier lifestyle.
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See what’s a pass and what’s a fail as judged by Perspective Editor Angela Pagan.
Pass
Pizzeria offers fun activities and food The space that used to be Rosy’s Roadhouse, 930 Pappas Drive, will soon be a Rosati’s Pizza, and it is great to know that a new venue will be available for food and fun. Although I did not come to NIU until after Rosy’s closed, I have heard many people talk about what a fun place it was and how much it will be missed. I have always wondered what kind of business would take over and a pizza place/sports pub seems like a good replacement. Pizza is a staple food for college students, so another pizza place will only benefit a college town. A new pizza pub that also offers karaoke and trivia nights will be a fun addition to the many dining options in DeKalb.
Fail
Bike path should be on NIU campus The bike path that will be incorporated into the widened Peace Road would be better suited for another area. While I applaud DeKalb for attempting to accommodate bicycle transportation by creating the path, I think it would be better to put a bike path on a more student populated area. The path will extend from Lincoln Highway to Macom Drive, and Dekalb would like to work with NIU, according to a Thursday Northern Star article. If NIU will be involved, I think that more bike paths should be created on, or near, campus first. Biking to class should be safer.