So long, 2015

It was a year when NIU researchers found fish a half-mile beneath the Antarctic ice.

It was a year when NIU students joined a famous Hollywood star on national TV commercials. It was a year when NIU sparked conversations on bilingualism, the need for more diversity in children’s books and the shrinking population in the state of Illinois.

As 2015 draws to a close, the NIU Newsroom and NIU Today are offering a look back at 15 of the top stories and topics from the year.

The last 12 months produced tales of amazing students, celebrated faculty and critical engagement with the cities and towns in our region. Some of the news wasn’t as happy – a tornado passed through DeKalb and Ogle counties April 9, killing two in nearby Fairdale – but the acts of generosity that followed demonstrated the character of northern Illinois.

So, let’s take a cup of kindness yet – and take a look back at some of the stories that shaped 2015.