Syverson Objects to NIU Building Plan

February 27th, 2008 at 05:18pm Aaron Chambers

Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, objected to plans to replace Cole Hall with Memorial Hall in a press release:

Syverson supports honoring NIU victims, questions whether new building is right approach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 27, 2008/bc

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) agrees the victims of the Northern Illinois University (NIU) shooting should be honored in a respectful way, however he questions whether demolishing Cole Hall and constructing a new facility is the right approach.

“I think everyone agrees a tragedy of this magnitude should be recognized in some way,” Syverson said. “But razing Cole Hall and constructing a new building isn’t necessarily the right approach. It will likely be a major financial commitment in the tens of millions of dollars at a time our state budget is facing a $1 billion budget deficit. I believe we can honor the victims of this tragedy, and do it in a fiscally responsible way.”

One possibility, Syverson suggested, is the creation of scholarships in the names of the shooting victims that could be developed through private partnerships – scholarships that could last for perpetuity. Another option would be to rename Cole Hall “Memorial Hall” – the name of the proposed new building – and to create an appropriate memorial in or around the current facility.

“I am 100 percent behind paying tribute to the victims, and helping NIU move past this tragic event,” Syverson reiterated. “But let’s not rush into anything. We should take an appropriate amount of time to come up with something that balances the need for remembrance with the need to ensure our state budget remains fiscally sound.”

Syverson also noted the proposed new building comes at a time tuition costs have skyrocketed in Illinois, rising by 50 percent in a few short years. He says part of the reason is the lack of a commitment by state leaders in funding higher education.

“We need to be thinking about how we can better help college students, not just at Northern Illinois University, but around our state,” Syverson said. “Tuition is rising at alarming levels, and families are struggling to put their students through college. Let’s look at ways of alleviating this burden – and perhaps the funding being proposed for this new building could be used for that purpose.”

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