Posts filed under 'Northern Illinois University'
March 25th, 2008
Virginia has offered to give $100,000 to each of the families of the 32 people killed during the April 16 Virginia Tech shooting spree last year and similar compensation to those who were injured.
However, that proposal, which includes a confidentiality clause, is not sitting well with everyone.
The money would come from taxpayers’ wallets, according to the Washington Post.
Under the proposed offer, the state would not admit liability but would justify the payments as a way to avoid a series of lawsuits. The offer came after several weeks of closed-door talks between attorneys for the state and attorneys for families of the victims. […]
As part of the deal, the state would create a fund to help pay for the medical expenses of some of the more than two dozen students and faculty members injured in the shooting, state officials familiar with the offer said. The families of the 32 victims killed by the shooter would get about $100,000 each. The money would come from taxpayers.
Money is only one facet of the settlement, which the Virginian-Pilot detailed here.
Those who survived the shootings say $100,000, which is the maximum the state can pay in damages, would not begin to cover their long-term health costs.
Roger O’Dell of Roanoke, whose son, Derek, was wounded, said families were asked not to discuss the settlement negotiations. He added that his son has made no decision - he doesn’t want to become adversarial toward the school that he loves, but he has been told his lifetime counseling costs could range from $125,000 to $500,000, plus higher health-insurance costs because of his pre-existing conditions.
Post-traumatic stress disorder “could flare up at any time and could be disabling without regular treatment,” Roger O’Dell said. “He’ll have constant reminders because he’ll have the bullet holes.”
In the fall, the victims received money from the Hokie Memorial Fund, in which people donated close to $8.5 million to go toward the families, the injured and the school.
In the wake of the Feb. 14 shootings at NIU and other campus shootings recent years, it is likely that we will see more of these sort of lawsuits surface.
Is $100,000 enough for a life cut short or a life to be forever hampered with long-term health issues? Should there be, or can there be, a uniform policy for this sort of thing, as one commenter asked on a New York Times’ blog?
March 20th, 2008
The Feb. 14 shooting deaths at NIU’s Cole Hall, coupled with the previous massacre at Virginia Tech, have fueled a movement dedicated to encouraging concealed guns on college campuses.
A group called Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is growing at campuses across the nation, as at least 12 states are considering legislation to allow college students to carry concealed guns on campus, NPR reports. A print version of NPR’s story, as well as a link to an audio interview with a SCCC leader, are here.
After deadly shootings at schools in Illinois and Virginia, 12 states are considering legislation to allow guns on college campuses. Stephen Feltoon, a director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), is part of a movement that says college students should have the same gun ownership rights as others.
Feltoon says he purchased his first gun for recreation. “Now I own it for defense,” he says. “I can take a firearm anywhere that’s not a college campus, a liquor establishment, or any business that posts a ‘no gun’ sign. When am I carrying it? That’s the beauty of conceal and carry. You’ll never know until I need it.”
It’s not clear how great of a presence SCCC has among Illinois campuses. But students at four Illinois colleges identify themselves as local contacts for the group. Their names and contact info are here. (The list of contacts, nationwide, is extensive and worth a look.)
Illinois law does not permit concealed carry, despite the best efforts of advocates. However, there are those who argue that Illinois law does permit a citizen to carry a handgun concealed in a fanny pack.
In November 2005, the Register Star published this report:
SPRINGFIELD — Just store your handgun and ammunition separately in your fanny pack, and go about your day.
As long as you own the gun legally and you don’t happen to be in a local government that precludes such a move, you’re perfectly legal in Illinois.
At least that’s the interpretation of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, which raised the issue Tuesday during a Capitol news conference where law-enforcement officials called for greater state restrictions on guns.
Giacomo “Jack” Pecoraro, the group’s executive director, called the loophole “Illinois’ implied conceal carry” law.
“If you’ve seen tourists with the small bags, you can have the firearm in the bag over here and the clip or the necessary rounds. It takes a mere second to load it,” he said. “And that’s allowable, and this is what we’re trying to stop.”
Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, agreed with that interpretation. However, he said an individual carrying an unloaded gun in a fanny pack would not be legal “on a public street.”
UPDATE 1
Stateline.org offers a good deal of background on how state lawmakers around the nation are revisiting concealed carry laws in light of campus violence. These two stories are dated — they were published last spring, following the Virgina Tech shootings — but useful nonetheless.
The first story:
The most recent legislative debate in Virginia, one of 48 states that issue permits allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms, arose after Virginia Tech disciplined an unnamed student who brought a firearm to class in 2005.
State Del. Mark Cole (R) this spring failed to push through a measure that would have let students with concealed-carry permits bring firearms on campus, trumping the school’s policy prohibiting them. The legislation languished in a subcommittee after a hearing. A similar measure failed last year.
The same issue came up this year in Utah, too, with the opposite result. The University of Utah gave up its struggle to keep its gun restrictions. A new law signed last month by Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) allows students to request roommates who don’t have a concealed-carry permit. Students 21 or older can bring firearms to campus if they have permits.
The second story:
In reaction to the Virginia Tech shooting spree, a Louisiana state lawmaker and higher education officials unveiled legislation Wednesday (April 18) to make clear that the state’s public universities can ban guns in student dorm rooms.
Legislation by Louisiana state Rep. Richard Gallot (D) seeks to remove any doubt that guns are banned from college dorm rooms, despite a conflict between a state law allowing Louisiana residents to keep guns in their homes and one banning firearms at universities.
The Louisiana proposal is the latest illustration of the collision between gun-free policies at state-run universities and state laws that are making it easier for citizens to carry firearms in other public places. While some states explicitly allow college campuses to ban guns, public universities such as Virginia Tech have had to defend their firearm restrictions in the face of laws in 48 states allowing citizens to get permits to carry concealed firearms. Sometimes, students have been the ones to challenge campus gun bans.
UPDATE 2
I reached out to the SCCC’s contacts at Illinois campuses to find out more about the group’s activity in this state. D. Scott Dennison, the SCCC campus leader at Parkland College in Champaign, responded by e-mail:
Thank you for the email and for your interest in the SCCC cause. It is very difficult to say exactly how many members are from a particular area. Anyone can become a member, and disclosing your location is not required. This is also the case for your question about exactly which campuses are active. What I can say, though, is that we are very proudly over 20,000 members strong and are still rapidly growing. From the beginning, SCCC has been a nation wide organization, so all states have always been included. Unfortunately, Illinois is one of the only two remaining non-carry states. Therefore, we Illinois based campus leaders have a much more serious situation on our hands. We must appeal to state representatives as well as college campuses. Illinois and Wisconsin will come to their senses soon enough. Again, thank you for contacting me.
March 4th, 2008
Northern Illinois University President John Peters today defended his $40 million plan to raze Cole Hall, where a gunman killed five students plus himself, and replace it with another building nearby.
But in a letter to the NIU community, Peters also backed away from that plan and solicited greater community input.
The punch line, in three parts, is here:
I have expressed my own view that we should decommission Cole Hall as a classroom building. I made that judgment after talking with scores of students, parents, faculty and alumni who told me they could not fathom returning to Cole Hall to teach or study.
And here:
In the days that have followed that tragic event, different voices and opinions have emerged, and we must take in all those viewpoints before moving forward.
And here:
In the spirit of shared governance, I pledge to do all I can to facilitate the expression of all opinions.
The Peters letter came a day after Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, threw water on the $40 million rebuilding plan by calling it “off the table.” Burzynski backed the plan last Wednesday, when Gov. Rod Blagojevich visted NIU and announced it together with Peters, but said Monday he decided it was not fiscally prudent.
For his part, the governor has done nothing to publicly mitigate the blow to Peters’ rebuilding plan. Blagojevich took ownership of that plan during his announcement last week, but on Monday his aides stepped clear of it by saying they’re planning to support what NIU leaders want.
In other words, the governor’s office declined to defend the rebuilding plan and left it up to NIU to fight for it.
Here is the full letter from President Peters, and it is also posted here:
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.
Even as we acknowledge our loss and express our gratitude we must also look forward, as we have family business to attend to. Three key issues present themselves for our consideration:
First, we must decide how we want to memorialize that which has been lost - precious lives, a sense of security, our belief in the sanctity of an open campus. Part of our healing process must involve a family discussion about these issues and how to express our feelings through a permanent legacy. Our goal is to create a special place on our campus where generations of the NIU family can come to remember those we lost and reflect on what we can each do to honor their legacy. To that end, I am forming a February 14th Memorial Committee, chaired by Vice President for Advancement Mike Malone and including students, faculty, staff, families and alumni, to solicit opinions and develop ideas for a fitting memorial. That memorial will be made possible through private donations and will represent the best thinking of a broad-based NIU group.
Second, we must address the very real space needs brought about by the closure of Cole Hall. Much has been written on this topic in recent days, but little of that discourse has come from our campus community. I want to make sure that the most important voices in this debate - those of our students, faculty and staff - are heard and heeded. Student government is already working on this issue, gathering opinions and discussing options. Provost Ray Alden and Paul Stoddard, executive secretary of the University Council are likewise assessing campus views on our immediate, mid-range and long-term space needs related to the closure of Cole Hall. The domino-effect of class space reallocation has impacted nearly 10,000 students in more than 150 class sections. The Provost’s work group, consisting of faculty, staff and students, is looking carefully at all of the details involved in short- medium- and long-term replacement of instructional space lost in the Cole Hall closure.
Third, we must engage in a campus-wide discussion about the future of Cole Hall. Immediately following the tragic shootings on February 14, we closed Cole Hall through the end of this fiscal year. We now face the question of what to do with this facility in the future. Our answer should represent a consensus opinion formulated by all members of our campus community. We must decide whether to remove the building or keep it; to reopen it in its present form or change its purpose or configuration. Any decision carries emotional and financial costs. I have expressed my own view that we should decommission Cole Hall as a classroom building. I made that judgment after talking with scores of students, parents, faculty and alumni who told me they could not fathom returning to Cole Hall to teach or study. In the days that have followed that tragic event, different voices and opinions have emerged, and we must take in all those viewpoints before moving forward. In the spirit of shared governance, I pledge to do all I can to facilitate the expression of all opinions. To that end, we have established a confidential email mailbox (colehall@niu.edu) to which any and all members of our community may submit opinions. Ultimately, our decisions on an appropriate memorial, reassignment of classroom spaces and the future of Cole Hall must address both the emotional and practical considerations we face as an injured but united campus community.
Once consensus is reached, it will be up to the NIU family to communicate our needs to our state leaders and ask for assistance in meeting those needs. We know all too well the fiscal constraints facing our state, and we remain mindful of that reality even as we advocate for our campus. I remain confident that our elected officials and the citizens of this state will step forward at the appropriate time to assist NIU in addressing our classroom space issues.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for the efforts you have made to welcome back our students and resume our university life following our tragedy. We are by no means done with our grieving, and we know that healing is a long journey with many bumps along the way. Yet I could not be more proud of this wonderful NIU family. We have found the best in ourselves and in each other - let us never forget that. I remain, as always, in your debt and most grateful to be a part of NIU.
Sincerely,
John G. Peters
President
UPDATE 1
The Register Star’s story this morning includes comment from Cherilyn Murer, chair of NIU’s board of trustees:
Murer said it’s important for the community to view NIU’s plan for a memorial separately from its need to accommodate students displaced from Cole Hall, a centrally located building with two lecture halls.
She said NIU leaders do want community input relative to a memorial. But as to how the university decides to handle classroom space, she said, “These are internal matters.”
“That doesn’t usually come for (a) vote in the community,” she said of infrastructure considerations.
Murer also responded to critics of NIU’s response, saying they lacked the perspective she gained from touring Cole Hall after the shootings.
“I did take issue with people saying it’s just like if somebody dies in your house,” she said.
“Well, it isn’t like if someone dies in your house. It was a massacre in there, and there was blood all over the walls and the floor. It was an area where you knew you could not have students return to that building to be educated.”
March 4th, 2008
The Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees never had a meeting concerning the controversial plan to raze Cole Hall and replace it with another facility.
So said Barbara Giorgi Vella, a trustee from Rockford, in a phone conversation on Tuesday. However, she said NIU President John Peters made clear that the $40 million rebuilding plan was his priority, and she wanted to help.
“We didn’t have any meetings about this,” she said. “He just said off the cuff, ‘Gee it’s going to be hard to replace this building, and some of the kids are uncomfortable coming back. It’s going to be a problem and we need more space.’ That’s how, I guess, it came about.”
She added, “At some point the governor was saying, ‘What can the state do to help NIU get through this crisis.’ So that’s how it started. I don’t too much else to be honest with you.”
Did she like the plan?
“I didn’t have any opinion at the time, in other words against or for,” she said. “I just wanted to do what was most efficient and best for the students, really. I didn’t have any agenda either way.”
Yesterday, Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, threw cold water on the $40 million plan, saying it’s “off the table.” Giorgi Vella, daughter of the legendary late Rep. “Zeke” Giorgi from Rockford, said it appeared the plan became mired in political considerations.
“Unfortunately, it’s become tied up in all sorts of other things,” she said. “I can’t even venture to comment. I am not political. I just gather that all kinds of things have come to pass and bear.”
UPDATE 1
Joan Laurino, an aide in NIU’s external affairs office, just called and said Peters and Kathryn Buettner, the university’s VP of external affairs, have no comment on Burzynski’s remarks.
I’m still waiting to hear whether Peters remains committed to the $40 million rebuilding plan.
March 3rd, 2008
Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, said Monday that he doesn’t think NIU’s plan to replace Cole Hall, where a gunman recently killed five students plus himself, is going anywhere.
“Demolition is going to be taken off the table, and what I think is going to occur now is there is going to be discussion on campus of if there is good use for the building, what it should be and those kinds of things,” Burzynski said.
Our below post on this topic was getting far too long, but if want some more background on this rapidly evolving story please go here.
Burzynski said he was surprised by some elements of the $40 million plan to replace Cole Hall. After the excitement died down, Burzynski said he realized selling $40 million in bonds would not be fiscally prudent.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, together with NIU President John Peters, announced the plan at NIU last Wednesday. Burzynski and Rep. Robert Pritchard, R-Sycamore, stood with them.
“Everyone got caught up in the governor’s announcement and willingness to try to help the university,” Burzynski said.Pritchard on Monday stood by his earlier position to help the university with its most pressing need – additional classrooms. He said solving the need for more classrooms may evolve as the NIU community and the Legislature continues to discuss the future of Cole Hall.
“We may come up with a plan that may look a little different than it is today,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard stopped short of concurring with Burzynski’s harsh assessment, saying it was not clear to him whether the $40 million rebuilding plan would get anywhere.
“Any legislation has to go through a process of input from both citizens and legislators, and as more people have time to weigh in on that decision, it is always typical that things could change,” he said.
UPDATE 1 — by AC
NIU officials today did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
