BY DAVE PARRO
One of the main considerations when talking about demolishing NIU's Cole Hall is how the campus should best remember the shooting victims while also trying to move past the tragedy.
It seems like razing the building so soon after five students were killed there is a rash decision being made while the NIU community is still mourning. Throw in the governor making a pitch for $40 million in state funds and all of a sudden the debate becomes political.
That's the last thing NIU needs right now.
Here's an excerpt from an editorial running in Friday's Beacon News:
If we were students or faculty members at Northern Illinois University, we wouldn’t want to step foot in Cole Hall right now, either. It’s difficult enough to walk by the building where five students were gunned down, let alone think about actually attending class or working within the walls of the now-infamous lecture hall.But that doesn’t mean the painful physical reminder of what Steven Kazmierczak did on the NIU campus must be erased altogether. As one student said about Cole Hall and the deadly Feb. 14 shooting, “It’s a part of us now.” There’s no escaping that fact.
That’s why we’re reluctant to embrace the plan announced by NIU President John Peters and Gov. Rod Blagojevich to ask state legislators for $40 million to raze the building and replace it with a state-of-the-art Memorial Hall. With students having returned to class only days ago, the grieving process has really just begun. While we agree that Cole Hall should not be used again this semester, making a decision about its future while the wounds are still so fresh would be rash. ...
The decision will be a difficult one, and it has to be made after receiving input from the entire NIU community. It can’t be tainted by suspicions about motives and politics while emotions run high.
John Puterbaugh, the editor of the Northern Star, wrote an insightful column today that calls for the governor's actions and motives to be scrutinized.
NIU must do something about Cole Hall, and it is encouraging that our governor and local state legislators are pledging their support by bringing our dilemma to Springfield with the intent of financing a solution. At the same time, it’s important to keep this in perspective.There isn’t a lot of extra money in the Illinois state budget, so Blagojevich’s actions and promises must remain scrutinized.
After all, I’d hate to think our unspeakable tragedy of Feb. 14 could be viewed and taken advantage of as nothing more than an opportunity for the governor to improve his image in the public’s eye.
Should Cole Hall be demolished? How can NIU start the healing process while also recognizing that the shooting will always be part of its history that can't be ignored or erased?
honestly i think thats its like stupid to spen that much money to do that. But my cousins go there and its kind of like i know why they would do it because that could bring back horrible thoughts and stuff so im like on both sides. lol im 14 and we talk about this in history. but yea.
I sent a letter to the editor late on 2/28/08 revealing my anger and astonishment at the poor timing and the inappropriate use of Illinois money. I didn't even know, until I read tonite's paper, that NIU at tried for a decade to RENOVATE a building at less money and that the building was only 40 years old. I believe emotions should be given time to calm down. It may be a simple case of "pick yourself up and get back on the horse" for the victims. It was after all only a few hours to a few days that the students were back on campus and according to the media, wanted to be back in class. I'm sure they are much stronger for it. Worse case scenario, those students who were directly impacted by this, will have graduated in 1 to 4 years, and it won't be the big issue it is right now. More importantly, the students weren't injured by falling ceiling tile or carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty heater, they were injured because a fellow Illinois University student felt he was all powerful. If it happened in the new building, would they want to tear that down, too? With the economy as it is, just how many little children, elderly, homeless, or sick people would $40 million feed, clothe, house, and help heal? I think the count would be alot higher than the relatively small number of victims who are running on high emotions just 2 weeks after the event.
There was a murder at a Quick-E-Mart. Should we tear it down? Someone died on I-88. Should we reconstruct the road? My father-in-law died in my house. Should I demolish my home? No. Was Columbine H.S. destroyed? Is Virginia Tech tearing down buildings?
This is an abuse of tax payer money. It is an attempt by politicians to capitalize on the moment.
Most students were not impacted by the shooting. (Many students are playing the victim and creating drama where there is no connection.) They were not in the classroom or building. In a few years, this will be forgotten by all except those in the classroom and their families. Many Americans cannot remember 9/11. Do we still notice Armistice Day? Put up a small memorial and move forward.
Your father in law died in your house? Did you create any "drama" over it? My daughter attends NIU and it is her home. She lives there. She has for the past two years. She is young and feels as tho someone has violated her home, her space. No one came into your home and shot your father-in-law (I hope). This was an act of violence. I agree they need time to heal but for god sake don't you underestimate their pain. My daughter and most of her friends are uncomfortable attending classes in that space but give them time. I understand that the idea to tear the buildings down came from Virginia Tech people who came to campus to discuss what happens after this sort of senseless act. Further we will never forget, not in a few months ,or a few years, or ever. If moving forward to you means erecting a statue and moving on, then your living under a rock
The solution is NOT tearing down a perfectly good building. Do not use it for the remainder of the year. You can then re-paint it, give it some sort of facelift. But the taxpayers of IL cannot afford this freebie to NIU, especially in this poor economic climate. Baby Blago is trying to score political points with this, & he will dig us further into a financial hole, just like his other programs did. He also is using it to deflect attention from "Person A". The NIU president is an opportunist, seizing on this tragedy to score a new, state of the art building he otherwise never could have gotten. And no, it is NOT up to the NIU community to decide Cole Hall's fate -- it is the taxpayer!
BTW, Kent state did not cover the fields in wildflowers & erect buildings on the knoll after their tragedy. Nor VA Tech, nor the TX school where the gunman shot from the tower. A bit of logical thinking is needed, not gut reactions, and not feelgood solutions.
Strip out the room and completely redo it from the floor on ip...dedicate the room to the victims...and continue to use the building.
Tearing down a building for the cost is giving too much worth to the killers dreadful act.
Turn the building into a living, breathing, memorial where learning will still take place.