NIU Needs Answers

Note to readers: The reason for me actively writing blogs is for people to know they aren’t alone. My way of expressing my emotions is through writing, and through this I just want people to see that maybe what they feel or question is the same thing I do as well. It’s nice to know you aren’t the only one…

I was extremely nervous going into class on Monday. I didn’t know what to expect. Would my professors know I was in that class? What were the counselors going to do? Would we return to learning? Luckily, that first class went alright. The counselor didn’t even talk too much. It even turned out that a few students had read my column about my experience that was published in the Northern Star that day. I got a lot of support from those who read it which was comforting and made class a lot easier for me to get through.

The first time I had class in a lecture hall was nerve-racking. I could not sit still the entire class. I kept staring at the doors to make sure security guards were there watching them. It felt so weird being in a new lecture hall; what made the class worse was that we were in the Carl Sandburg Auditorium which was where they took witnesses to talk to the police after the shooting. So continually though out the class I kept having flashbacks of that nightmare of Valentine’s Day, when the auditorium was filled with shook-up students.
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NIU returned to class today, February 25, 2008. This is one eyewitness’ perspective on how to cope with the return to class amidst so much raw emotion.

By Sam Brunell

A reporter’s return

As many may have noticed, there are fliers hanging everywhere on how to cope with the recent tragedy. Unfortunately, there aren’t many (luckily) who had to witness a school shooting. But troubled times and events often define our lives. We have to show strength during these moments.

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By Sam Brunell

Could this be real? Was it a joke? A drill?

He never really stopped shooting. I couldn’t take my eyes of him. When he got closer to the aisle (which was in my direct path), reality kicked in. I dropped to my knees and laid flat on the hard, cold floor taking cover under the not-so-comfortable hard lecture seats.

It was 1:30 p.m. on February 14, 2008.

I was sitting in my dorm room with Mike and Justin. I had been religiously checking blackboard to see if my Geol 104 test grade had been posted. It was fairly cold outside and I had been in classes since 8, so I really didn’t want to go outside, to yet another class.

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