NIU’s new mask mandate will soon take effect. Starting Monday, Feb. 28th, students and faculty are only required to wear their masks during in-person instruction, on public transportation, surveillance testing and healthcare locations, and other spaces where high-transmission of the virus can occur.
As part of NIU’s updated rules, students would not be required to wear their masks in the Holmes Student Center. Student Vivian Cortez thinks it is a fair update.
“I think it’s a good start for us to start getting back to how things used to be,” said Cortez.
University officials say students can still wear masks in these spaces if they want. For more information on requirements and detailed guidance, students and faculty can refer to the Protecting the Pact website.
Meanwhile, due to the decrease of Illinois COVID cases, Governor J.B. Pritzker is proposing a plan where current mask mandates statewide will be lifted on Feb. 28 except in high transmission areas.
NIU is launching Blackboard Navigate, a new tool where students can stay on track all the way to graduation. Students can schedule appointments with their advisors, locate NIU resources and services, and perform a variety of other operations.
Sports
NIU Women’s basketball lost against Kent State last night with the final scores coming out to 67-43.
The NIU Men's team played Ball State Tuesday, winning with a final score of 64 to Ball State’s 58. NIU’s 2nd game will be against Akron Thursday night. Their last game this week will be on Saturday against Miami at home.
NIU gymnastics managed to post its fifth highest score all-time beating Illinois State on Sunday at the Convocation Center. In the last 3 meets, the gymnastics team has given NIU two of its five all time top scores.
In other news men’s tennis will be heading to Youngstown State for two matches on Friday and Saturday. First they’ll face Youngstown State and then follow that up with a match against James Madison.
Weather Forecast
A potential snowstorm is expected to come in the area on Thursday. Bundle up for a windy morning with showers in the day followed by heavy snowfall with 3-5 inches of total snowfall, with a high of 27 degrees throughout the day.
Thursday night we’re looking at a low of 3 and cloudy. Friday is looking like another cold morning, with a high of 26 and wind gusts ranging from 15-25 mph.
Saturday, the weather is expected to be sunny, with a high of 24, and staying dry through the day. Sunday’s weather is predicted to be mostly sunny, with a high near 23.
Contributions by Allyson White, Gabe Fiorini, Joi Bradley, Jaylen Conwell, and John Jurgens