The wide spread support for NIU has been phenomial recently. I was at Don Carter Lanes last night in Rockford bowling with my NIU hat and hoodie on and I had at least 10 people come up to me and say that NIU was in their prayers and told me to stay strong and the campus community will get through this struggling time.

And then today I was on my way back to school today and at a stop light about 10 miles west of Rockford on US 20, and man and his wife pulled up next to me and asked me to roll down my window.

They had said they saw the NIU gear on my car and they both said that NIU was in their prayers and to keep together as a community to get through these troubling times.

I think it's great that everyone is really reaching out to members of the NIU community!

I was having lunch at Dixie Kitchen in Hyde Park and my waiter commented on my NIU shirt ("good to see you showing support for NIU") and asked if I was an alum. Business picked up and I never got a chance to ask what his connection to NIU was (student? alum? does he have people here?). Left a good tip though.

Anyone make it to any of the ribbon making events last night or doing any work on the cookie labelling at Kish Hospital (40,000 cookies donated for NIU students)?

Last night in my volleyball rec league, the Legal Eagles team all came up to me after the game to ask about NIU. I wear an NIU shirt to all my league games, even before the shooting. Never got much notice before the last few weeks.

Then they bought the first round of drinks at the bar for my team. Course they did beat us.....

The President of Waubonsee Community College which sends many to DeKalb and is an NIU grad herself has written a letter on website encouraging students, staff and faculty to wear red and black on Monday. Donatons jars and ribbons have been made available to all.