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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

Inside of the Health Innovation Center on NKU's campus.

NKU makes masking optional on campus beginning March 8, with select exceptions

Mildred Nguyen, News Editor March 3, 2022

President Ashish Vaidya announced in an email Thursday morning that masking will be optional at Northern Kentucky University beginning March 8, with a few exceptions. According to the email, masking...

NKU forgives $600,000 in student debt accumulated during pandemic among other $3M Equity Initiatives

NKU forgives $600,000 in student debt accumulated during pandemic among other $3M Equity Initiatives

Matthew Dietz, Editor-in-Chief July 22, 2021

In a campus-wide email on Thursday, Northern Kentucky University announced $3 million in Equity Initiatives by using federal coronavirus relief funds to prioritize students impacted the most by the pandemic.  The...

“Thank you for practicing social distancing” sign in front of the Rec Center on campus in the grass.

‘Science is not political’: Faculty discuss COVID-19 cases and vaccines

Madison Plank, News Editor May 2, 2021

NKU COVID-19 cases have been tracked for the last year or so and have, overall, been low compared to the rest of the surrounding Northern Kentucky counties. However, steps still need to be taken to overcome...

Facial coverings are now required to be worn on campus over the summer.

‘It feels like it’s been forever’: Students discuss why they got a COVID-19 vaccine

Natalie Hamren, Editor-in-Chief May 2, 2021

Junior neuroscience major Katie Clough received both doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Her reasoning? Simply wanting everything to go back to normal.  “I know that the more people that get the...

A sign that, in black text, says NKU. Clouds are in the sky.

How NKU is moving forward during COVID-19

Northerner Staff April 30, 2021

Over the last year, NKU has had to adapt to virtual operations. Classes, appointments, meetings and even commencement were all virtual. Students, staff and faculty learned to adapt to the online environment...

NKU goes ‘back to the future’ for Fall 2021: in person learning, campus housing

NKU goes ‘back to the future’ for Fall 2021: in person learning, campus housing

Josh Kelly, Managing Editor March 16, 2021

President Ashish Vaidya announces campus will be headed “back to the future” for the Fall 2021 semester. The fall semester, beginning Monday, August 23, will include in-person learning, residence...

Book cover that says "How to Respond in a Pandemic"

VIEWPOINTS: “The pandemic wasn’t going to stop me”

Austin Patello, Contributor March 14, 2021

Editor’s Note: Submissions are edited for clarity and length. 130 students read Dr. Joan Ferrante’s “How to Respond in a Pandemic” as part of a Health Innovation grant. Dr. Ferrante shared the...

Outside the Student Union during fall.

COVID Vaccine Phase 1C delayed while administrators plan how to vaccinate campus, move forward

Josh Kelly, Managing Editor February 18, 2021

On Feb. 2, NKU announced that the state of Kentucky delayed Phase 1C of the COVID-19 Vaccine deployment from the current schedule and NKU administrators were prepared for the call. The delay was due...

FAQ about the COVID-19 vaccine

Josh Kelly, Managing Editor January 18, 2021

The University will distribute vaccinations to the NKU community free of charge in the coming weeks. In order to shed some light on the vaccine and whether one should get it, below are some questions that...

NKU to move to remote learning following counties' red zone distinction

NKU to move to remote learning following counties’ red zone distinction

Rachel Smith, News Editor October 30, 2020

Following Campbell and Kenton Counties’ “red zone” distinction for COVID-19 severity in Kentucky, NKU plans to temporarily move most classes online on Monday, according to a campus-wide email. There...

Kaeppner sits inside her apartment and looks at through the window.

Emmy Kaeppner

Natalie Hamren, Editor-in-Chief September 22, 2020

Around four days after Kaeppner’s fiancee, Isabel Sleczkowski, started experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms, Kaeppner started experiencing them, too. Her mom had coronavirus over the summer, so Kaeppner...

Sleczkowski sits in her apartment. She stares out through the window.

Isabel Sleczkowski

Natalie Hamren, Editor-in-Chief September 22, 2020

Isabel Sleczkowski felt the blood pressure cuff squeeze her arm. She knew another 30 minutes had passed. Between the cuff, an IV, a pulse oximeter and her relentless fatigue, she could hardly hold up the...

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