Northern Star At times, many DeKalb residents, particularly NIU students, are unsure how they will get their next meal. Even though food insecurity is a term that many are not familiar with, many do fall into that category without knowing they do, said Courtney Gallaher, Associate Professor in the Department of Geographic and Atmospheric Sciences. According to the January 20, 2021 Northern Star Twitter poll, only 27% of the 22 respondents indicated that they “know how food insecurity affects members of the DeKalb community and college students in general.” That means 73% do not know how it affects them. Very likely, unfamiliarity with the term “food insecurity” is to blame.