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The Independent Student Newspaper of Northern Kentucky University.

The Northerner
The Independent Student Newspaper of Northern Kentucky University.

The Northerner
The Independent Student Newspaper of Northern Kentucky University.

The Northerner
All content by Cassie Stone
Northerner editor-in-chief says farwell

Northerner editor-in-chief says farwell

Cassie Stone, Editor-in-Chief

All the thinking and planning and dreaming of what I would say on the day I finally got to write my farewell editorial has done me absolutely no good. I’m sitting at my desk Tuesday night, about two...

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Repeat, repeat, this is only a test

Cassie Stone

When the university’s emergency alert system starts going off at 2 p.m. Nov. 9, don’t be alarmed. It’s only a drill. As part of the first-ever nationwide test of the emergency alert system, Northern...

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Faculty senate expresses concerns

Cassie Stone

The latest Faculty Senate meeting covered several current topics, including the move to Division I, the search for a new president and midterm grades for more students. Faculty Regent Chuck Hawkins...

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No error in GenEd headline

Cassie Stone

I make mistakes. I’ll be the first to admit that. And when I do, I take every step I can to clarify, fix and correct them. But I will not admit a mistake I didn’t make. I appreciate Kent Johnson’s...

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GenEd program does not meet standards

Cassie Stone

For more than a year, two professors have filed complaints and appeals regarding changes to Northern Kentucky University’s new GenEd program. On Sept. 16, the U.S. Education Department agreed with the...

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Opinions still differ on GenEd changes

Cassie Stone

The debate over Foundations of Knowledge, NKU’s general education program, is at a standstill for now, but the university is still waiting to hear the results of the U.S. Department of Education’s...

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NKU police officer dies while off duty

Cassie Stone

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect additional information from NKU Police Chief Jason Willis. One of Northern Kentucky University’s police officers was killed Friday morning while...

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Students to fund Rec Center improvements

Cassie Stone

Northern Kentucky University is on pace to charge its students a higher fee than some other Kentucky colleges and universities to improve and maintain the Campus Recreation Center. Four universities...

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GenEd requirements under investigation

Cassie Stone

Northern Kentucky University’s revamped general education requirements are under fire from the U. S. Education Department, almost a year after being implemented. In a letter addressed June 7 to the...

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NKU tuition set to rise again

Cassie Stone and Cassie Stone

The suspense is almost over for those students who are waiting to find out how much tuition at colleges and universities across Kentucky will increase next year. The Council on Postsecondary Education,...

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Honors director stepping down

Cassie Stone

The Honors Program director will be stepping down after this semester to go back to teaching full-time. He said he is leaving the position after being told his opinion about the direction the Honors...

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NKU restructures budget

Cassie Stone

Lost in the excitement over Northern Kentucky University President James Votruba announcing his intentions to apply in the fall to be a NCAA Division I school was the announcement that professors will...

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SGA winds down

Cassie Stone

The Student Government Association is drawing closer to voting on the proposed student fee to fund improvements to the Campus Recreation Center in the A. D. Albright Health Center. On Monday, SGA had...

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SGA members stand against transcript fees

Cassie Stone

Students and graduates of Northern Kentucky University may have to start paying a $10 fee to get copies of their official transcripts if the registrar moves forward on a plan to use an online, automated...

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Editor fail: guilty as charged

Cassie Stone

The only thing more difficult than fixing a mistake is admitting it ever happened. Last week, I broke the first rule of reporting. I ran a story without first checking the facts. In “Faculty vetoes...

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Student donations to fill budget gaps

Cassie Stone

Northern Kentucky University and Chase College of Law are seeking to bolster their scholarship funds by asking graduating seniors and third-year law students to make donations back to their schools. Members...

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Funds for repairs running short

Cassie Stone

Potholes are not just a reality for highway drivers, they are also a problem for students who need to cross the plaza at Northern Kentucky University. Freshman Alex Knockelmann, who uses a wheelchair,...

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Prof. brought fun to accounting

Cassie Stone

She taught accounting to a rock-n-roll beat. She helped raise money for high school drum corps and winter guard. And, in place of a mortarboard cap, she always wore a sequined beret to the commencement...

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NKU can take your KEES

Cassie Stone

Officials at Northern Kentucky University have more control over whether or not some students will continue receiving the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship, thanks to a Kentucky state law that...

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Shotgun Club raises alarm on campus

Cassie Stone

A new club forming at Northern Kentucky University and its promotional materials are raising safety concerns for some students. The Shotgun Club is a registered campus organization designed to bring...

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Professor’s art sparks controversy

Cassie Stone

Burning crosses. A hangman’s noose. Hate. Fear. Images of white robes with pointed hoods evoke a myriad of images and emotions. An art display featuring an image of a Ku Klux Klan member is raising...

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Library: adios fees

Cassie Stone, Cassie Stone, and Cassie Stone

If there's an overdue book laying around that hasn't made its way back to Frank Steely Library yet, April 15 is the day to return it. Dubbed 'Amnesty Day,' Northern Kentucky University's library is forgiving...

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MLK day review

Cassie Stone, Cassie Stone, and Cassie Stone

Talk radio host and civil rights activist Joe Madison will speak at Northern Kentucky University's Martin Luther King, Jr. commemoration program at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 in Otto Budig Theater. Madison, called...

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Concepts of diversity disclosed

Cassie Stone
Walking up to a person in a wheelchair and telling them "It's amazing that you can drive a car!" is an example of what not to say. Matt Glowacki explained concepts of diversity, racism and body image in "Diversity According to 'South Park' and 'Family Guy'" Nov.
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Diversify your week

Cassie Stone
The Activities Programming Board is bringing students together to promote diversity. From Nov. 10 through 13, Northern Kentucky University will be playing host to several events. Coffeehouse Series: Gabriela Garcia Medina Award-winning poet and international spoken word artist Gabriela Garcia Medina will perform at 7 p.
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Going vegan offers benefits

Cassie Stone
The life of a college student isn't exactly the best environment to promote healthy eating, let alone a lifestyle that eliminates animal products from one's diet. Think about it. You've got about five minutes to grab a bite before class. What do you think you have time to do: Sit down and eat a salad or grab a burger and eat it on the run? But, if you are looking for a healthier option that cuts those fatty patties out of your diet or you are against the exploitation or cruelty to animals, adopting a vegan diet may be for you.
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Paranormal seekers prove ghosts exist

Cassie Stone
If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz and Peter Venkman are probably not running around here with proton packs, but there are some real ghost hunters right here in Northern Kentucky.
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Dunham’s dummies entertain

Cassie Stone
Jeff Dunham, with the help of his "family" of dummies, kept the audience in the Bank of Kentucky Center in stitches Sept. 26. "Spark of Insanity," with the renowned political ventriloquist, comes as the second act to grace the Bank of Kentucky Center. "And we sold more tickets than Carrie Underwood,"he remarked in the opening act.
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Sorority recruitment, drop outs rise

Cassie Stone
The increase in sorority recruitment numbers this semester was overshadowed by the rising dropout rates of Greek Life before completing the process. Joy Feictner, president of the Panhellenic Council on Northern Kentucky University's campus, said there were several reasons why women chose not to join.
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Being pampered on a budget

Cassie Stone
Who says you have to go to an overpriced day spa to get a little bit of pampering? Northern Kentucky University students can now get luxury treatment at student-friendly prices. Gateway Community College's cosmetology school now offers salon and spa services at a discount to NKU students.
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Programs merge to create Center

Cassie Stone
The Office of International Programs and the Office of International Students may be merging to create the International Education Center next semester. "It will be a center for all things international," Elaine Jarchow, dean of the college of education and human services and coordinator of the internationalizing Northern Kentucky University task force, said.
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Gulla rescinds election appeal

Cassie Stone
A candidate for Student Government Association President has filed an appeal of the SGA elections held April 16 and 17, but has since rescinded it. Stephen Meier, manager in the Dean of Students office and advisor to SGA, said the appeal was based on how many credits someone must have to run in SGA elections.
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Votruba outlines budget

Cassie Stone
Next semester Northern Kentucky University will have a new position: the vice president of loaves and fishes. NKU President James Votruba used the biblical story of Jesus using only five loaves and two fish to feed a multitude of 5,000 to illustrate the financial situation of the university at the Spring Convocation April 16 in Greaves Concert Hall.
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Art speaks out

Cassie Stone
You may have noticed the people in white jumpsuits running around campus recently. No, they're not ghosts of NKU's past. They're just students from Foundations II. Foundations is a two-part art class required for all incoming art majors. It consists of two semesters that cover different aspects of art including sculpting, painting and, of course, performance art.
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Initial master plan selected

Cassie Stone
A new soccer stadium, more housing and classrooms, space for both intramural and intercollegiate athletic sports and more green spaces around campus are all things promised in the latest revision of the campus master plan. However, to add all of this to the campus, more than 160 homes in the Sunset Boulevard area, west of Nunn Drive, must to be purchased.
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Proposed Interfaith Center to be moved to temporary spot

Cassie Stone
Northern Kentucky University announced in an April 9 meeting that the former University Bookstore on the ground floor of the University Center will not become a campus Interfaith Center. The president's dining room in the University Center will be used as a temporary solution.
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Chase offers lectures on iTunes

Cassie Stone
The Salmon P. Chase College of Law has joined Northern Kentucky University in presenting audio and video recordings through iTunes U. Right now, there is only one podcast available, "Tips on Writing Research Papers for Law School," but there are more to come, said Mike Whiteman, an associate dean in the Chase Law Library.
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Buses get Wi-Fi

Cassie Stone
Northern Kentucky University is leading the way in expanding technology involved in public transportation. The College of Informatics partnered with the Transit Authority of Northern Kentukcy to expand mobile Wi-Fi to all buses on routes that service NKU. This free service works with any type of mobile device.
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Chase wins multiple titles

Cassie Stone
The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team isn't the only one winning championships. Students at the Salmon P. Chase College of Law are also raking up awards. This year, students at Chase have won two competitions, made it to the semi-finals in another and placed second in a student writing competition.
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Bookstore to correct mistake

Cassie Stone
An error at the University Bookstore caused 96 credit card transactions made Dec. 6 not to be processed. The bookstore has issued a notice for customers affected by this error that the transactions will be debited from their accounts on March 10. Elio Distaola, director of public relations for Follett said employees found the error while running a routine audit of the batches a group of credit card transactions.
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Still no charges in alleged rape case

Cassie Stone
No official charges have been filed against the suspect in the rape that was reported in Commonwealth Hall. University Police Chief Harold Todd said that the case was referred to the Commonwealth Attorney, who will decide whether or not to file charges or send the case to a grand jury.
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Student reports rape

Cassie Stone
University Police said a woman reported Jan. 28 that she was raped in Commonwealth Hall, but added that the alleged rape did not take place that day. Chief Harold Todd said that University Police cannot release any information because the investigation is still ongoing.
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College corrects grades

Cassie Stone
Students from three classes at the Salmon P. Chase College of Law got a surprise when they checked their transcripts just before the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. A transcript error caused some grades to be applied to the wrong people. Nancy Firak, the associate dean of Chase Academics, said the mistake was found between 4:30 and 4:45 p.
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TANK makes upgrades; hybrid buses, new hubs, mobile WiFi

Cassie Stone
While we were all away enjoying our extended winter break, the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky was busy adding hubs, more free WiFi access and hybrid buses to the fleet. Though not all of TANK's buses have WiFi, route No. 11 and No. 25, which run through Northern Kentucky University, now offer the free service.
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University works to safeguard info

Cassie Stone
Northern Kentucky University is taking steps to ensure the personal information of staff and students remains safe, but what happens if something slips out? Sara Sidebottom, the vice-president of legal affairs and council, said that there have not been any leaks of student information.
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Business plan to include tuition increase

Cassie Stone
Northern Kentucky University unveiled its business plan to meet the goals of Vision 2015 in the Board of Regents meeting Nov. 14. This plan, along with Double the Numbers, is designed to improve the living standards in Kentucky by increasing the number of high school and college graduates.
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Campus mourns Weatherby

Cassie Stone
Although some people may make others feel about two inches tall, Dr. Dennis Weatherby had the opposite effect. "I walked out of his office whenever we had a meeting and I always felt about two inches taller," said Dr. Annette Burkeen, president of The Black Faculty and Staff Association, at a memorial service for Dr.
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Norse Express upgrades to ease student distress

Cassie Stone
ate the computer systems that Northern Kentucky University uses, Norse Express is expected to get some changes of its own. Part of the PRISM Project, which began in 2005, university officials hope it will integrate the computer programs that NKU uses. Though, right now, students are having some problems with the computer systems.
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Ministry behind mystery boards

Cassie Stone
The ambiguity behind the Love/Hate boards has been explained. At a luncheon in the University Center Ballroom Sept. 18, the Baptist Campus Ministry (BSM) unveile it was the anonymous organization that created the Love/Hate blog and put up the large white boards on the UC Plaza.
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Will mental health info follow you?

Cassie Stone
The panel assembled to investigate the Virginia Tech tragedy made more than 70 recommendations to colleges dealing with campus, safety, students' mental health issues and how to handle a crisis on campus. The panel, created by Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, said in the report issued Aug.
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UP looks into hate incident

Cassie Stone
Police are investigating a possible hate crime where a racial message with the "n-word" was reportedly left on a marker board in Norse Hall Aug. 26. Tearmirra Williams-Talley found the "n-word" left on the marker board outside her dorm She said she erased the message because she was going to ignore it, but later changed her mind and called the police.
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NKU offers virtual learning

Cassie Stone
Trying to juggle class, a job and a social life can be difficult. But with modern technology, students have more options for completing their degrees. Northern Kentucky University offers alternative to traditional classes with a variety of online courses and degrees.
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Class enrollment finishes Aug. 24

Cassie Stone
now -- and many freshman learn, students at Northern Kentucky University can't just drop and add a classes on a whim. The NKU policy prevents students from enrolling in a class after the first week of the semester. The deadline to register for a class is Aug.
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Group plans Earth celebration

Cassie Stone
Tree huggers can come out of their hippie closetes to celebrate a greener, brighter future on Earth Day. The Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students, will host an Earth Day Celebration on campus April 18, and then move the party to Annie's nightclub in the evening.
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Students party to raise funds for Hope’s Voice

Cassie Stone
The Rites of Spring week kicked off April 9 with the first ever Norse-a-Palooza. The main event was the tug-of-war competition. Thought up by Jessica Flake, one of the coordinators of Norse-a-Palooza, the tug-of-war was a substitute for the pumpkin smashing competition held in the fall.
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