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Community welcomes NIU students back to town

 

NIU students and their families felt the warm embrace of the DeKalb/Sycamore community as they returned to school the weekend of February 23.  Red and black banners, signs and posters lined the streets and decorated storefronts, demonstrating the unity of the communiversity.  Thousands of students and their families, alumni, community members and friends jammed the Convocation Center on February 24 for a Memorial Program honoring the victims of the February 14 tragedy at NIU, and thanking all those who have come to the aid of the university and the community.  

 

NIU President John Peters thanked the community for all their support in a letter printed in the Daily Chronicle on February 24.

 

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/02/24/opinions/opinions01.txt

 

Forward, Together Forward

 

A phrase from the NIU Huskie fight song took on new meaning as the communiversity pledged to move “forward, together forward” in the days ahead.  Ten thousand posters carrying this message of strength and solidarity have been placed in storefronts and residences all over town.  Businesses and non-profit organizations have proudly displayed this message on their own marquees and electronic signs.  

 

The collective power and importance of the communiversity in the response, healing and recovery process following the tragedy at NIU has been amazing.  Countless gestures of kindness and caring have helped everyone persevere through the most difficult period in the lives of many.  

 

The Daily Chronicle printed an editorial on the importance of communiversity on February 24.

 

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/02/24/opinions/editorials/editorials02.txt

Comfort from the community … in a small plastic bag

 

On NIU students’ first two days of classes following their return, they were met in various locations around campus by smiling volunteers offering small gifts:  freshly-baked cookies that were donated by area bakeries, restaurants, catering companies, grocery stores, and the hospital.  Affixed to each package was a label which carried the message “Forward, Together Forward.   Your DeKalb/Sycamore community cares about you.”  The small band of volunteers who dubbed themselves the Cookie Brigade set an original goal of collecting 30,000 donated cookies.  They were delighted to nearly double their goal by collecting 55,000 cookies.   

 

Kishwaukee Hospital, the scene where many of the injured were cared for following the tragedy on February 14, became cookie headquarters on February 22, when hundreds of community volunteers gathered to package and label cookies.