Nobody but nobody can take away from the horrors of what has happened. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to the family/loved ones. We hug our own loved ones deeper and tighter tonight.

While it is only a side note, we must come together as one to help this community and our university the best we can. Understand, I am a fan, an alumnus...not a university employee...just one of us dedicated to NIU on this board.

In a certain way, this is more damaging, more frightening than the destruction that was Feb 14th. At least then we knew the murderer and knew well that he was where he belonged. The healing began immediately and the students and community could feel, objectively, safe. While not everyone was satisfied with the university and the police, the general consensus was very positive.

THIS chapter is quite different. Parents want their kids home and reasonably so...not just to hug them but to protect them. The community is conflicted, students are worried and the university understandably is wounded.

Thoughts of a serial killer and memories of Feb 14th seem to suggest NIU is different, unsafe and clearly not where you would want your child.
Many of us disagree this notion, but to an outsider...We must stand with our university.

This year we are celebrating an excellent FB team and the campus may even notice. Homecoming was great and a week later we showed some enthusiasm. A MAC championship could very well be in the mix...a national ranking...a bowl win.

On a potentially cold and very dark night we play who else on Nov. 9. Pretending it was business as usual and we could somehow erase this event, we would/could be hard pressed to fill that stadium for a national audience. Now, more than ever with this looming very large, it will be hugely important to show America that NIU has heart, has pride and will not be deterred by sickly, heinous acts. A dark, empty and lonely stadium will do nothing more than assure those watching and annoucing that we are reeling. While we may be, it is hugely important that we find the people to show up, be visible, tailgate and be there to cheer on the Huskies. This is moving forward despite the tragedy, the horror. The univeristy must recruit more than ever those willing and wanting to be there. This must be a push.

I am afraid that this set-back may be our biggest challenge to date. We need to respond to literally save what we love.

Our deepest thoughts are with this beautiful young girl's parents and family.

The "Tribune" told everyone we were on "lockdown" and that one parent wanted her son to transfer out of NIU for his "safety" at the end of the semester. God I hate the Tribune.

This is an isolated incident, NIU is as safe as Illinois, Northwestern, and WAY safer than UIC U of C, etc.

My point exactly. We have exactly two weeks (lucky timing schedule wise) to show the face and pride of this university.

That Tribune thing left a bad taste in my mouth.

One of the coolest things I've seen in this whole story was a news clip last night- Neptune North students, neighbors of Toni's had made some cool looking chalk art on the sidewalk on Lucinda. Neighbors paying tribute to a neighbor. I felt some serious pride.

Hopefully the event tonight will mark a turn in coverage. I want to see more about what I know must be happening- a lot of Huskies supporting other Huskies. I'm sad that some people may want to leave the school I grew to love, tragedies hit everyone differently, I'm not going to judge. But I'm sure for every one of them, there are so many more who have found comfort in the friendships that formed because they went to NIU.

Now is a time to show love for NIU by whatever means we can. Sick, messed up stuff can happen anywhere. School pride may not usually be a strong point for NIU- but I know that when ugly stuff happens, people at NIU look out for each other.

(10-26-2010 04:56 PM)DogTracks Wrote:  That Tribune thing left a bad taste in my mouth.

One of the coolest things I've seen in this whole story was a news clip last night- Neptune North students, neighbors of Toni's had made some cool looking chalk art on the sidewalk on Lucinda. Neighbors paying tribute to a neighbor. I felt some serious pride.

Hopefully the event tonight will mark a turn in coverage. I want to see more about what I know must be happening- a lot of Huskies supporting other Huskies. I'm sad that some people may want to leave the school I grew to love, tragedies hit everyone differently, I'm not going to judge. But I'm sure for every one of them, there are so many more who have found comfort in the friendships that formed because they went to NIU.

Now is a time to show love for NIU by whatever means we can. Sick, messed up stuff can happen anywhere. School pride may not usually be a strong point for NIU- but I know that when ugly stuff happens, people at NIU look out for each other.

+1

Now is a time to show love for NIU by whatever means we can. Sick, messed up stuff can happen anywhere. School pride may not usually be a strong point for NIU- but I know that when ugly stuff happens, people at NIU look out for each other.
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I agree, do not let this monster weaken our community. Lets pull together and stand up for our school and our community.

Lets also keep a sense of perspective about this. I have never seen any evidence that there is more violent crime in Dekalb than in communities of similar size and I have not seen any evidence that there is more violent crime at NIU than other college campuses. My daughter attended Miami University in Ohio and while there she was a member of their cycling team. One day we were saddened to learn that a female student at Indiana University, that she knew, disappeared while on a training ride. To my knowlege she was never found.

Lets pull together and do what we can to make our community safer. Lets ensure that students are reminded to not travel alone at night or in wooded areas and lets make sure to learn these as lifetime lessons and not something that is only helpful while at NIU.

These guys win when they intimidate a community, lets not let them intimidate us or make us feel ashamed about ourselves, the DeKalb community or NIU. Lets support each other and lets show the world what it means to be a Huskie.