Cole Hall
What a waste. There I was, all excited about my good fortune because the quirky way my coworker had worded something during our meeting had somehow sparked a non-work related epiphany that needed to be written down. I had this great idea, man, this perfect anecdote about relationships that was to be the perfect antidote for Valentine's Day. I couldn't wait to go home to share it with the world.
And then, like almost everyone else who calls Northern Illinois University their alma mater, the buzzkill came for me shortly after 3 pm yesterday, in the form of several text messages all about the NIU shooting.
Cole Hall, where it all happened, was a lecture hall that I'd had a few classes in during my NIU years, so it really hit home for me. I mean, this was where I slept during Anthropology. This was where I did crossword puzzles at during C++. This was where they held film studies classes, and even though I wasn't taking the class, I'd sneak in with a box of popcorn during their film noir unit so I could watch Philip Marlowe movies for free.
It's heartbreaking to me that from now on, whenever people go to class at The Best Place In NIU To Take Naps At, they'll always be staring at that side door, wondering if it will flip open and another freak with a shotgun and semi-automatics will barge in.
Damn it.
You know how everyone groans whenever a really suspenseful part of a TV show is on, and then that beeping starts, followed by an obnoxious "Severe Weather Warning Alert" graphic that covers up half of the screen? It was like that yesterday when NIU President John Peters came on at like 7:59 pm to announce the injury and death count, nearly interfering with an all-new episode of Lost. Later that night, a buddy of mine IMed, "im sorry to hear about northern, i really am... but i almost had a shit fit when they had the special report five mins before the show."
I laughed and agreed, not out of callousness, but out of frustration. Because February 14, 2008 was supposed to be a good day for a lot of people.
For college kids stressed about upcoming midterms, for geeks anxious about watching their favorite TV shows, for bloggers excited about writing something fun, they'll all agree: life is hard enough as it is. We don't need this extra bullshit.
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18 Comments
I don't go to NIU but I'm saddened for the students there and their families. You're all in my prayers.
I agree Pete. NIU was my home away from home. It was very surreal watching the events yesterday on TV and knowing exactly where that happened and what they were talking about. It was like watching a movie you wanted to turn off. I am so angry that NIU was invaded in such a way, and so very sad for what my fellow Huskies had to endure yesterday. My heart goes out to the students, faculty, families, and fellow alumni. Everyone stay strong, NIU will prevail!
Once a Huskie....Always a Huskie!
Agreed. Its just a total shock, I can't really say anything else. It hits very close to home.
Very well put.
Still seems surreal. Keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you for writing this. I think you're describing what many of us are feeling... anger, shock, disgust.
I graduated last winter from NIU so I was really affected by the news of yesterday. What a horrible thing for that community.
I also have fond memories of Cole Hall. You're right, it being so big and dark made it a very easy place to fall asleep in.
It's a sad fact of life now that school shootings will never stop in this country, but I'm glad to see that there are so many people out there pulling together in times like these.
my thoughts go to families and friends...
It's just so sad. Things will never be the same at that school, because like you said everyone will be staring at that door he came in through.
I just saw this...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Illinois_University_shooting
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Kazmierczak
Crazy, I don't think any of us imagined that NIU would ever get national attention for something like this...
I actually took that Oceanography class and considered it one of the most interesting classes I took at NIU. Now, not only do I shutter because NIU is my home...my family is there...but I can picture where I sat in that class, remember that exact lecture, and all I keep remembering to look at is that side door.
You got it absolutely right - "We don't need this extra bullshit." You know I was going through a lot of emotions the past 24 hours as my little sister is a freshman at NIU. I was angry at first but thinking about it now especially after reading this blog, I'm just really saddened. There is so much pain and tragedy in the world, and it found us this time.
At least he's burning in hell right now where he can't hurt anymore innocents.
I think we need to be careful about calling him a monster. We don't know him or his story, just that he was off his medication for a while.
I can't even imagine some of the horror that those students witnessed. My thoughts go to everyone at NIU. Don't worry, things will get better if you just keep your spirits up.
That could happen to any school too, it's just scary. :(
That guy is a fucker...whatever issues he had, they had NOTHING to do with the people he killed/hurt. What a world we live in.
I think everyone who went to NIU for 4 (or more) years had a class in Cole hall. For me it was Programming in C, as many gen-eds are in Cole.
It really hit home for Krissy (my wife for those who don't know me) because she graduated from NIU with a masters in Geology in August of 2007. She knows the instructor (Joe), teacher assistant (Brian), and all those in the Geology department.
For me, it's more the fact that we could do nothing about it. This guy could have gone anywhere and did this, Dusable (where there are packed hallways during class changes) or a busy shopping mall. If life was that bad for him, he should have pulled the trigger on himself FIRST, not take innocent people with him.
Anyway, NIU being my Alma Mater, I've made my dedication the best way I know: a photo.
http://photofill.com/archives/2008/02/niu_support.html