NIU Classes Resume

By Margaret Lyons in News on Feb 25, 2008 11:49PM

NIU classes resumed today after a vigil last night drew 10,000 people from the university and beyond, including Governor Blagojevich, Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama, and secretary of the department of health and human services Michael Leavitt.

Eddie Williams, NIU's executive vice president of finance and facilities, said at last night's service, "We will not let darkness alter or extinguish our light. Forward, together forward, our light will shine forever more."

"Forward, together forward," part of the refrain from NIU's fight song, has become the mantra for the school and affected community. NIU has even made posters with the phrase, which you can download as a .pdf here.

Even though classes were back in session, things were, of course, not back to normal. Around 500 grief counselors were on campus today, as were people offering "free Huskie hugs" to comfort bereaved students. [Northern Star (NIU's student newspaper), AP, USA Today, S-T, Trib, NIU]