NIU

Do you ever wonder how someone becomes the face of a university? The process might be easier than it seems.

Northern Illinois University is holding a summer casting call for students who are interested in representing life as a Huskie in upcoming publications (photographs, videos, social media posts, etc.).

The man accused of driving under the influence and causing a fatal car crash has been released and is out on his own recognizance. 

Daniel Chavez, 25, was arrested following the car crash Sunday shortly after midnight on Lincoln Highway that killed NIU graduate student Sai Kumar Adluru  and injured three passengers.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s office says they found traces of marijuana in Chavez’s Jeep, with urine tests confirming the presence of the drug in his system. He also had a blood alcohol level of .076 -- slightly below the legal limit of .08.

A Northern Illinois University student is dead after being hit by a drunk driver early Sunday morning.

Sai Adluru, a 23-year-old DeKalb resident, died after his car was struck on Illinois 38 just east of Nelson Road.

Adluru and a passenger were driving westbound when the other car crossed into their lane.

Daniel Chavez of Rochelle has been charged with three counts of aggravated Driving Under the Influence and one count of reckless homicide. He sustained serious injuries from the incident.

Adluru was an NIU graduate student studying electrical engineering.

Goodwill is stationing containers in NIU’s residence halls this week as students move out for the summer.

It’s part of a bi-annual campaign to collect unwanted items that may otherwise go in the trash.

Mary Ann Stratus, with Goodwill, said that's because residence halls often don’t have the time or manpower to bring items to donation centers.

“It only made sense for Goodwill to come in, bring the bins to the students, and just make it easy for them to donate,” she said.

Stratus said they’re in particular need for items like shoes and jeans.