Tori Lentz

Professor’s passion for politics gives life to presidential debates

Tori Lentz, Contributor

Dr. Steven Weiss knew he probably wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise in his next class. The longtime communication studies professor was planning to broach the topic of the most recent presidential...

[Photo] Decision 2016: The Northerner Election Day Coverage

Northerner Staff

Dr. Steven Weiss

Popular study habits shown to hurt students’ grades

Tori Lentz, Reporter

What you’ve been taughtWith final exams approaching, you might be gearing up to highlight every piece of information in your thick textbook to get ready for the big test. But common study habits such...

New VP seeks to engage with students

Tori Lentz, Reporter

If there’s one thing Kim Turner wants to excel in this semester as the interim vice president for student affairs and dean of students, it’s student engagement.Turner, the former assistant vice president...

Geographic reasons behind move to Horizon League

Carrie Crotzer, Tori Lentz, and Abby Anstead

The Board of Regents voted unanimously Monday to add NKU to the Horizon League conference effective July 1.NKU Athletics will make the move for the 2015-16 season to cut down on travel time for student...

Record number of students to graduate this spring

Tori Lentz, News Editor

NKU will graduate one of its largest classes in the institution’s history when 1,780 students receive degrees at three commencement ceremonies May 9.“We continue to go up a little bit. We have a couple...

BREAKING: Chief of Police Jason Willis resigns after receiving Ph.D.

Tori Lentz, News Editor

Chief of Police Jason Willis announced he is resigning from NKU to pursue other opportunities in higher education. His resignation, effective May 29, comes after four years as head of the NKU Police Department. Willis...

Campus grows, parking shrinks

Tori Lentz

Student works come to life at playwright showcase

Tori Lentz, Reporter

Alexx Rouse watched as two of her peers took the outdoor stage on the plaza to perform an excerpt from a play she’d written over the course of the semester. “It’s a snippet from “Caverns,” which...

UPDATE: Kim Turner named temporary replacement for Peter Gitau

Carrie Crotzer and Tori Lentz

President Geoffrey Mearns has appointed Kim Turner, current assistant vice president for student support and business operations, as interim vice president of student affairs after Peter Gitau's resignation...

Rec Center construction to wrap up Fall 2015

Richard Cracchiolo and Tori Lentz

With the Rec Center construction set to wrap up construction by the fall semester, the Student Government Association was invited on a tour of the construction site. What they saw included the early steps...

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Project Manager JD Barnes shows student government senators the route they will take through the Rec Center construction site. SGA toured the site March 30.

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Project Manager Brad Lehman discusses the treadmills that will be installed next to a wall of windows. SGA toured the site March 30.

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Locker rooms will be constructed to the left of the pool. SGA toured the site March 30.

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Project Manager JD Barnes leads the way through what will be a spinning room. SGA toured the site March 30.

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Student government senators caught an overhead glimpse of the multi-activity court. SGA toured the site March 30.

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Group Superintendent Joe Deacon explains the work that went into digging out the space for the pool. SGA toured the site March 30.

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From left to right, Project Manager Brad Lehman, Project Manager JD Barnes and Group Superintendent Joe Deacon discuss some of the new Rec Center features the senators may see on the tour. SGA toured the...

Dean Waple leaving NKU at close of semester

Tori Lentz, News Editor

Dean Waple announced he will be leaving his position as Dean of students at NKU for a position at Southern Illinois University this summer. “I’ve accepted to be the vice chancellor of student affairs...

[Photo] Mearns ends search for new rec management

Tori Lentz and Gavin Colton

President Mearns speaks to students at Monday's town hall forum. The Rec Center, Health Innovations Center, Peter Gitau's resignation and the national search for a new head basketball coach were the topics...

Student Government Election 2015: Meet the Candidates

Tori Lentz, News Editor

Current Vice President Kat Hahnel and Senator Will Weber are ready to fight for more state funding, a strict budget, and continuing scholarships. But will Senators Ellie Kremer and Hannah French sweep...

University raises tuition for 2015-16 school year by 3 percent

Tori Lentz, News Editor

The Board of Regents voted Wednesday to increase tuition for Kentucky residents by 3.12 percent, meaning Kentuckians will pay $11 more per credit hour next year. The increase means that the cost of attending...

Snow removal crews work through the night to clear campus

Tori Lentz, News Editor

UPDATE: NKU is closed Thursday, March 5, 2015 due to continued Level 2 snow emergencies in the Northern Kentucky area. All classes are cancelled. Snow removal will occur in shifts through the night as...

Campus biking program to further sustainability efforts

Tori Lentz, News Editor

Students will be able to check out bikes for free with the ease of a smartphone app as early as next fall when NKU’s new bike share program comes to campus. The program is aimed at continuing environmental...

How does NKU make the call to close?

Tori Lentz, News Editor

UPDATE: The university is closed Friday, Feb. 20 due to extreme temperatures. As NKU experiences cancelled classes for the fifth day this week, Police Chief Jason Willis breaks down how administrators...

Callahan Bistro to close for renovations

Tori Lentz, News Editor

The Callahan Bistro will close March 6 for a renovation process that will mirror the construction process at Norse Commons last spring. NKU has hired GBBN Architects, the same firm that designed Norse...

WATCH: University closes for the second time in a week

Tori Lentz, News Editor

For the second time this week, administrators made the decision to close the university due to inclement weather on Wednesday. After initially deciding to open at 10 a.m. and then at noon, the university...

Snow day for some, hard work for others

Carrie Crotzer and Tori Lentz

As snow blanketed the tri-state Monday Feb. 16, many took to the safety of their homes while others battled to clear the snow. With NKU closed for the day, maintenance workers worked to keep necessary...

GALLERY: Massive cleanup of snow won’t happen until tonight

Carrie Crotzer and Tori Lentz

As snow continues to fall across the tri-state, maintenance workers at NKU are working to keep only the necessary roads and sidewalks on campus clear. “Mainly right now we’re just maintaining, we’re...

Did you click on the ‘Account Report’ spam email?

Tori Lentz and Richard Cracchiolo

Students, staff and faculty across campus received spam emails linked to malware Monday afternoon. The emails spread through attachments titled ‘Account Report’ and spread through people’s address...

UPDATE: Mearns selects two students for rec center review committee

Gavin Colton and Tori Lentz

UPDATED: President Mearns chose two students Friday to be a part of the committee that will review the requests for proposals (RFPs) from third parties that will potentially run the renovated Campus Recreation...

Does University Housing have a mold problem?

Tori Lentz, News Editor

When Elizabeth Gieske first moved to the third floor of the Laurel wing in Kentucky Hall, she discovered a substance resembling mold along the wood in her closet. Although the freshman media informatics...

NKU to create School of the Arts

Tori Lentz, News Editor

The Board of Regents voted last week to approve plans for a School of the Arts within the College of Arts and Sciences. The departments of theater and dance, visual arts and music would be combined to...

Nationally branded food concept funds go to Callahan Hall renovations

Tori Lentz, News Editor

After the idea of a nationally-branded food concept coming to the Student Union was hotly debated last spring in a town hall forum, the NKU administration has elected to use the $700,000-800,000 set aside...

[Photo] Senator Spotlight

Kristian Johnson is SGA's new Student Rights Chair.

Winter hasn’t hindered Campus Recreation Center construction

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

The completion of the $48 million Campus Recreation Center construction remains on track for the Fall 2015 semester despite recent snow and cold weather, according to project officials. “We’re very...

Gap in state appropriations leaves NKU at a disadvantage

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

NKU continues to fall behind several Kentucky universities in state appropriations, according to the 2014 Annual Financial Report presented at the Board of Regents meeting Wednesday. State Appropriations NKU...

Mayors accompany campus safety walk, identify issues

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

Senators from the university improvements committee presented issues ranging from potholes to lighting problems found during the 2014 Fall Campus Safety Walk at Monday’s SGA meeting. The walk, which...

College-aged voters: the senate election is in your hands

Brook Clifford, Carrie Crotzer, and Tori Lentz

Student body president reflects on career and challenges ahead

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

As student body president, John Jose enters the second half of the fall semester as head of SGA. The senior organizational leadership major and political science minor caught up with the The Northerner...

Gender-inclusive restroom resolution passes

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

After a week’s postponement, SGA voted 19-7 to pass a resolution requesting the installation of gender-inclusive restrooms in every academic building and high-trafficked building on campus. Following...

‘Gender inclusive’ restrooms resolution put on hold

Tori Lentz and Richard Cracchiolo

A new SGA resolution that would attempt to add more unisex bathrooms on campus was postponed until next week after an 18 to 11 vote. The resolution, proposed by SGA Student Rights Secretary Elizabeth...

All that glitters is not gold

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

Last week the Kappa Delta sorority discovered that glitter is prohibited in the Student Union and is punishable via hefty fine after an incident on Bid Day. The Northerner decided to take a look at this...

Skyline all day shouldn’t be your way

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

“Who wants to eat McDonald’s for three days like in Supersize Me?” Brook Clifford, our managing editor, asked The Northerner staff as we were preparing our healthy living edition of the newspaper. Brook...

Dean Waple’s untold life before NKU

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

Thursday marks Dean Waple’s seven year anniversary of being NKU’s dean of students, the longest he’s ever worked at a university. The Northerner sat down with Waple to find out his roots, why he’s...

Drug free report suggests decline in abuse this year

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

Following a spike in the use, distribution and possession of alcohol last winter and a rapid decrease in use during the spring months, NKU’s Drug Free School and Campus Safety Act Committee has released...

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Q & A with Northern Terrace’s new hall director

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

NKU’s newest dorm Northern Terrace provided additional housing for residents and a new friendly face will be there to welcome all the new residents. The newest member of the University Housing staff,...

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[Photo] UPDATED: Water restored to all NKU buildings following water main break

A water main break caused several buildings to close Monday, Aug. 18, 2014. The incident occurred when a backhoe struck the water line on the Campus Recreation Center construction site.

UPDATED: Water restored to all NKU buildings following water main break

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

Water service has been restored to all buildings following a water main break that occurred Monday afternoon outside of the Recreation Center. The incident occurred at the construction site on Kenton Drive. According...

Communication key in stressing class attendance to students through new policy

Tori Lentz, Assistant News Editor

“Show your face or lose your space” is the message administrators are trying their hardest to convey to students as NKU establishes a new non-attendance policy next week. According to university vice...

NKU graduation numbers are climbing higher each year

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

The number of students eligible to graduate at this spring’s commencement ceremony on May 10 is slightly larger than the previous fall semester and last spring, according to Krista Wiseman-Moore, Manager...

Campus safety walk revisits old problems, discovers new ones

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

In the largest campus safety walk to date, SGA members guided faculty, staff and students on inspection tours through different areas of campus discussing issues such as a lack of accessibility to the...

Pride marches through campus

Carrie Crotzer and Tori Lentz

The first annual LGBTQ Pride march took place Monday April 21 starting at the Student Union wrapping around campus, and ending at the Oakley and Eva G. Farris Amphitheater. Students wore brightly colored...

Student’s tribute to veterans touches lives

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

Just ten days before the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) first annual 5k race, the idea suddenly came to senior marketing major Tony Savicki. A student in Professor Jenny Gardner’s Event Planning...

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[Photo] SGA senator balances more than a college course load

Kristian Johnson is an SGA Senator, University Improvement Committee Chair and a Resident Advisor of Callahan as well as the founder of NKU R.O.C.K.S.

Student Research and Creativity Celebration provides a voice for all

Tori Lentz and Brittany Smart

The annual Student Research and Creativity celebration will commence its 12th year next week from April 14th -18th as one of the largest student and faculty collaborations on NKU’s campus. Event co-chairman...

UPDATED: Food debate rages on

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

SGA is in the process of passing a resolution supporting the addition of a nationally branded food concept in the Northern Fare food court. The resolution references positive student feedback from the...

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2014 Student Government Elections: Who will get your vote?

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

Campaigns for Student Government Association president and vice president are in full-swing this week and will culminate with a debate hosted by The Northerner Monday and the elections on Wednesday and...

[Photo] Fresh perspectives can be found in most unlikely of places

Fresh perspectives can be found in most unlikely of places

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

Connector road will join campus with AA highway

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

Construction is expected to begin in spring 2015 on a three-lane divided highway that will connect NKU to the AA highway. The road will feature a two-way turn lane, curbs, gutters and a multi-use path...

Upcoming town hall lets students ‘have it their way’

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

A survey created by the Student Government Association will be emailed to every NKU student tomorrow regarding their preference for a new franchise in the student union. After the results have been compiled,...

A closing Norse Commons brings air of nostalgia

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

I understand it needs fixing. I understand that the plumbing is messed up, that the C store is a “retail loser” and that the facility is just plain outdated. And although the new renovation plans look...

Town hall postponed over controversy

Tori Lentz and Richard Cracchiolo

After criticism from various groups on campus, the Student Government Association has decided to postpone Monday’s scheduled town hall meeting that would have helped decide which nationally branded food...

[Photo] NKU getting upgrade

Callahan resident Vivian Littleton surfs the web.

The future of Norse Commons

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

One day in the not-so-distant future, you and a few friends wander through the doors of Norse Commons, tired and hungry after a long day of classes. As you step into the newly renovated facility, you might...

Dorm gains new backdoor all card access point

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

Previously designated as an emergency exit, a backdoor to Commonwealth Hall is now being installed with All Card access and will be accompanied by the construction of concrete steps leading from the backdoor...

Sidewalk is the first of many changes to Callahan Hall

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

At the request of the Student Government Association, construction has begun on a sidewalk at the front of Callahan Hall extending from the B wing entrance, past the bus stop, and down to the front drive...

Plaza renovation nearly complete

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

After numerous setbacks and delays, the university plaza construction is set to be complete in the next four to six weeks, according to Assistant Vice President of Facilities Larry Blake. Blake explained...

Roomates set aside differences for friendship, SGA leadership

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

“Oh this is the best one! So recently I was trying on a dress and I looked in the mirror and I thought I looked really nice…” senior business management major Katie Cox said while sitting on her...

Biannual Campus Safety Walk identifies structural, accessibility issues

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

As dusk began to fall, members of the NKU Student Government Association carefully examined the walkways, lighting, and handicap accessibility of Callahan Hall, Residential Village and main campus areas. Accompanied...

Mearns Creates Position of Senior Advisor to the President for Inclusive Excellence

Tori Lentz, Staff Writer

President Mearns announced the creation of the position of Senior Advisor to the President for Inclusive Excellence to fulfill a major recommendation of NKU’s diversity plan. The university-wide diversity...