Remembering NIU
Sydney Elliot
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
The community at Northern Illinois University returned to classes Monday after the attack that killed 5 people and injured several others on Feb. 14.
SIUE held a memorial service Monday in honor of those fallen and injured after NIU held one for their own community Sunday night. SIUE officials waited to host a memorial service for several reasons, one being that NIU students returned to class for the first time Monday.
"NIU was returning to campus, and we wanted to be a part of that family and bring our family together to share in their return," Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth Emmanuel said.
Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift said the school thought there would be a better turn out to the memorial if it was held on Monday and said the service was "very moving and very appropriate."
The service included speeches from Emmanuel, Vandegrift, Student Body President Laurie Estilette, Sister Claudia Calzetta and Provost Paul Ferguson. Members of the Department of Music performed, as well as the SIUE Gospel Choir.
Emmanuel opened the ceremony and asked everyone present to introduce themselves to a stranger and "wish them well." Emmanuel went on to say that if everyone did this on a daily basis "we will make SIUE a very special place to live and learn."
Vandegrift and Estilette both spoke of trying to find the answers to seemingly unanswerable questions about explaining how something like this can happen yet again, especially just 10 months after the shooting at Virginia Tech.
"The answers to these questions are elusive, but critical to the future not only of higher education but of our society," Vandegrift said.
Calzetta read an adapted prayer originally read at Duke University after the Virginia Tech shootings.
The Morris University Center's Goshen Lounge was silent during the entire service as people gathered around to listen, remember and mourn those lost and injured at NIU.
Senior psychology majors Sarah Ryder and Andrea Somers attended the memorial because the tragedy hit close to home for them. Both have friends or relatives who attend NIU and felt this was a chance to show support for their loved ones and everyone else of the NIU community.
"I think other people would have done it for our school, and it meant a lot to me to be here for (NIU)," Ryder said.
Ryder's best friend from high school attends NIU. She felt the memorial service went well and said the speakers "said what's on all of our hearts, and it's good to just have someone vocalize it."
Somers, who has a brother and a friend who go to NIU, said it was important for her to attend in honor of her brother and his girlfriend.
"They said everything I've been thinking, and it was just important for me to be here for my brother," Somers said.
SIUE held a memorial service Monday in honor of those fallen and injured after NIU held one for their own community Sunday night. SIUE officials waited to host a memorial service for several reasons, one being that NIU students returned to class for the first time Monday.
"NIU was returning to campus, and we wanted to be a part of that family and bring our family together to share in their return," Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Narbeth Emmanuel said.
Chancellor Vaughn Vandegrift said the school thought there would be a better turn out to the memorial if it was held on Monday and said the service was "very moving and very appropriate."
The service included speeches from Emmanuel, Vandegrift, Student Body President Laurie Estilette, Sister Claudia Calzetta and Provost Paul Ferguson. Members of the Department of Music performed, as well as the SIUE Gospel Choir.
Emmanuel opened the ceremony and asked everyone present to introduce themselves to a stranger and "wish them well." Emmanuel went on to say that if everyone did this on a daily basis "we will make SIUE a very special place to live and learn."
Vandegrift and Estilette both spoke of trying to find the answers to seemingly unanswerable questions about explaining how something like this can happen yet again, especially just 10 months after the shooting at Virginia Tech.
"The answers to these questions are elusive, but critical to the future not only of higher education but of our society," Vandegrift said.
Calzetta read an adapted prayer originally read at Duke University after the Virginia Tech shootings.
The Morris University Center's Goshen Lounge was silent during the entire service as people gathered around to listen, remember and mourn those lost and injured at NIU.
Senior psychology majors Sarah Ryder and Andrea Somers attended the memorial because the tragedy hit close to home for them. Both have friends or relatives who attend NIU and felt this was a chance to show support for their loved ones and everyone else of the NIU community.
"I think other people would have done it for our school, and it meant a lot to me to be here for (NIU)," Ryder said.
Ryder's best friend from high school attends NIU. She felt the memorial service went well and said the speakers "said what's on all of our hearts, and it's good to just have someone vocalize it."
Somers, who has a brother and a friend who go to NIU, said it was important for her to attend in honor of her brother and his girlfriend.
"They said everything I've been thinking, and it was just important for me to be here for my brother," Somers said.
Be the first to comment on this story