Dear Colleagues and Students,
I write to you today to provide updates on our continuing recovery from the events of February 14th. Last week marked the one-month anniversary of the tragedy. Each new day brings different emotions and new challenges, yet I sense throughout our campus community a strengthened resolve and deepened commitment to each other and to the mission of Northern Illinois University.
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The following is a Facebook message from NIU graduate student Amy Genova to NIU students wanting to save Cole Hall.
“The following are open discussion dates for students to discuss their ideas regarding the future of Cole Hall. I hope all of you can make it so you can voice your opinions and be heard in this open forum. The meetings are sponsored by NIU’s Student Association:
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Holmes Student Center Regency Room
Time: 7:00 pm
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Campus Life Building, Rm 100
Time: 7:00 pm
Friday, March 21, 2008
Holmes Student Center Regency Room
Time: 7:00 pm
On a great side note: If you have not checked back with the group here is a brief update regarding the Cole Hall petition. The petition with 1,333 signatories was presented last Thursday to Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Brian Hemphill. Our voices have been heard, and we will now be able to move “Forward, TOGETHER, Forward” once again.”
Steven Kazmierczak lost his grip with right and wrong at some point before he died. He spent almost all of his life being a law-abiding citizen. His girlfriend has yet to discover when the break occurred. “He was NEVER EVER violent or aggressive,” Jessica Baty said.
In the small amount of interaction I had with Steve as a classmate, he hardly seemed like the violent type. He was tall and rail thin. His voice was small, sort of whinny. He was not very assertive when stronger personalities like myself spoke up. When he did speak though, his intelligence was evident in his comments.
Though most people didn’t see Steve’s potential for violence, there were signs of a potential violent outbreak.
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This was sent to NIU students last week.
Dear Students and Colleagues,
It has been nearly three weeks since the tragic events of February 14. It would be unreasonable to expect our campus to have moved on without remnants of fear, anxiety or grief. Our family has been injured, and we turn inward to comfort each other and gather strength for the journey ahead. The tremendous response from across our campus and the overwhelming appreciation we have gained for each other is a testament to the strong sense of community that defines NIU.
All of us have seen wonderful expressions of caring over the past few weeks - kindnesses both large and small, from people we see every day and people we have never met. The outpouring of support from far and near has been a great inspiration, and we remain indebted to all who have offered a hand in our time of need - counselors, religious leaders, community members, colleagues from across the country - all those who have reached out have offered a healing touch at a difficult time. We can never repay them, but we can and must offer our heartfelt thanks for their generosity.
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The NIU community has stepped up to halt the proposed Memorial Hall project.
NIU Graduate Student in anthropology Amy Genova is one of several students fighting for their right to comment on whether to demolish Cole Hall.
A Facebook group she started called “Preserve NIU’s Cole Hall” has grown in membership and a petition has been started. This petition has amassed more than 700 signatures by reaching out to students through Facebook and then getting signatures at the MLK Commons. The petition seeks to give students a right to have a say in the outcome of Cole.
“This is just to make sure that we have that community forum in order to discuss why Cole Hall should or shouldn’t be demolished.” said Genova.
It’s weird. Today when walking to classes I had a hard time believing something so tragic ever happened here. Security has been minimized, the counselors are out of classrooms, the dogs aren’t walking around campus 
. Yes; It’s a good thing that some form of ‘normalcy’ is coming back, but the one thing that continues to puzzle me is the debate over Cole Hall.
Looking at it, you would never think something so horrific occurred inside. It looks deserted and untouched. When President Peters asked me what I thought should be done to it, I told him I simply just didn’t know. Part of me feels as if it’d be best to just tear it down. I, for one, know I could never sit in that lecture hall ever again.
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Last week my aunt had a car fall from the sky onto her car while she was driving down I-90.
The incident has made me think about random crime and how people are supposed to cope with a situation that one can’t really prepare for. The quest for a motive has forced police to explore Kazmierczak’s recent changes.
More information continues to surface about looking at Cole Hall and its targeting.
NIUFilter is a regular segment on this blog that attempts to sift through the terabytes of information one can acquire on the web surrounding this tragedy, so click away, the links are meant to enhance your knowledge.
Whenever something like this happens there are always little bits of information that get lost under larger, more important bits of information. You’ll hear a few details about some aspect of an event and then, poof, never to be heard of again. One of those aspects in this case is the car that Kazmierczak owned and drove that day.