http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni Register Star staffers with ties to Northern Illinois University share their thoughts on the campus shootings Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:42:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Today—a month to the day that Steven Kazmierczak stopped time on my campus—a press release from NIU’s public affairs department filtered into my inbox. I opened it eagerly, hoping to find the answers there. I didn’t. I knew even before I read it that the report wouldn’t give me a feeling of closure, ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/03/14/reflecting-a-month-after-the-niu-tragedy/ An open letter to Gov. Rod Blagojevich Dear Rod, It's great that you're showing so much interest in the future of Cole Hall. While NIU had planned to leave the building alone for a couple months, let the stigma of the Feb. 14 events settle and then possibly reopen it in the ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/27/get-away-from-my-alma-mater-blago/ On Tuesday, I attended class for the first time since the shooting Feb. 14. Everywhere I looked on campus, there were signs proclaiming, "Forward, together forward," a message of hope taken from the lyrics of the “Huskie Fight Song.” The university distributed black and red ribbons for students to pin ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/27/the-future-of-cole-hall/ Jonathon Ellis, an employee of Illinois Growth Enterprises in Loves Park, holds up a poster that says "NIU: Our prayers are with you." After the tragic shooting at the university last week, Ellis felt led to do something special for Terry Starliper, a production manager at IGE whose daughter attends NIU. ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/22/local-worker-rallies-others-to-support-niu-students/ Thanks to initiative and hard work by students, the NIU memorial T-shirts that were in the works a few days ago are now in their final stages of becoming a reality. Go to niumemorialshirts.com to learn more and to pre-order a shirt. The shirts are only $10, and every penny of ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/19/niu-memorial-shirts/ I didn’t sleep well at all this weekend. While I may have been 60 some miles from NIU and Cole Hall, I was up to my elbows in everything NIU related. Since Thursday, we turned our newsroom into a 24/7 coverage post. We sent reporters, photographers and videographers out to DeKalb ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/18/personal-vs-professional/ I went to my roller derby league's practice tonight and -- like I've been quite a few times in the past few days -- was ambushed with hugs. I hadn't seen a lot of my Rockford Rage derby sisters since before Thursday, so the embraces were plentiful. I didn't really feel ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/17/a-welcome-distraction/ This is how Victor E. Huskie, the NIU mascot, was depicted in the Register Star today by Rockford cartoonist Bruce Quast. Copyright by the Rockford Register Star. Used with permission. While we go through the aftermath of this event, it may help to remember Victor in a happier moment. In the video ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/17/20/ Since leaving NIU on Thursday, I haven't been anywhere but work or home in Rockford. I worked Thursday and Friday, but since Friday evening, I've shut myself into my house for a little solitude. This morning, I left the house and went to breakfast with family in Rockford. It seemed strange ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/17/facing-the-world-isnt-easy-but-friends-make-all-the-difference/ The lyrics of the "Huskie Fight Song" hold a new meaning now. Click here to listen, and sing along. HUSKIE FIGHT SONG Huskies, come on you Huskies and make a score or two Huskies, you're Northern Huskies the team to pull us through Forward, together forward there's victory in view Come on you Huskies, Fight on you Huskies and ... http://blogs.e-rockford.com/ourniualumni/2008/02/17/huskie-fight-song/