NIU family gathers to remember, move forward
DEKALB - Tens of thousands of NIU supporters gathered here Sunday for one giant, heartbreaking family reunion.
Together, they formed a web of humanity that defied the horrific acts of a lone gunman.
On the eve of students' return to class, 10 days after a former graduate student walked into a lecture hall and opened fire - killing five, wounding 16 and then turning the gun on himself - Northern Illinois University hosted a memorial service before an overflow crowd at its 10,000-seat Convocation Center.
The theme of the 90-minute service was "forward, together forward."
The phrase, taken from the Huskies fight song, was plastered on church marquees, yard signs, T-shirts and the memorial program.
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"Tonight those words are especially poignant," DeKalb Mayor Frank Van Buer said.
Sunday the NIU family did move forward - together.
Groups of students, nearly all of them clad in red and black, began queuing four hours prior to start time. Two hours later, lines five wide and more than half a football field deep had formed at the center's main entrances.
By plane, by car and on foot, an estimated 9,000 alums traveled to campus. Some flew from far-flung spots like Mexico and the South Pacific. Students said they didn't know a single classmate who wasn't in attendance. Faculty, community members and parents came en masse. Three separate viewing sites on campus set up to accommodate the overflow all were themselves overflowing.
"Some were simply here because they were moved by what happened," said NIU President John Peters, calling it an "enormous outpouring of love" and an "unstoppable movement of people."
Those who couldn't make it to campus found other ways to mourn communally. From Chicago to central Illinois, California to Georgia and DeKalb to Baghdad, Huskies and Huskies-for-a-day organized group viewings of the campus memorial service, broadcast nationally and internationally and streamed live on the NIU Web site.
An anticipated standoff with a Kansas hate group never materialized. With a massive police presence, the memorial was peaceful, dignified and without incident.
Usually the site of boisterous basketball games and concerts, the convocation center was nearly silent Sunday - despite a crowd of at least 12,000 inside the arena, in an auxiliary gym and on hundreds of folding chairs in the lobby.
The victims' families, holding white roses, filled the front rows closest to the podium, which held NIU officials, U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and Richard Durbin and Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Behind the families sat students who were in the geology lecture when the shooting occurred.
Peters spoke first. He advocated for hope in the face of desperation; courage and strength in the face of sorrow, and love in the face of shock and disbelief.
"We will not allow ourselves to be defined by this tragedy," Peters said. "Our hearts are broken ... but we are healing.''
The names of the five dead students -- Catalina Garcia. Dan Parmenter. Ryanne Mace. Gayle Dubowski. Julianna Gehant - were read. Their photos, four of them smiling, one a serious pose, were projected on the giant screens around the arena.
Gehant was remembered as a patriot, Parmenter a gentle giant, Gracia an aspiring teacher, Mace an aspiring counselor and Dubowski a gifted musician.
Each five had "lives of great achievement and even greater potential," Blagojevich said.
Audience members sat stone faced or wept. Girls with NIU tattoos inked on their cheeks held hands. A boy wore sunglasses that hid some of his tears. A father in the front row clenched a tissue but didn't cry.
"We are family, all of us are NIU," said Judy Santacaterina, who introduced herself as a teacher, adviser, coach and alum. "We will heal. We will prevail."
Durbin sent the prayers and condolences of state politicians. "We share your tears and we join your prayers," he said. "You are not alone."
President Bush sent condolences, read by a representative.
During the invocation, NIU Executive Vice President Eddie Williams said a prayer for "a collective response that will not be silenced, that reflects the resolution #8230; that we will not let darkness alter or extinguish our light."
Jarvis Purnell, NIU student president, said that "the true Huskie spirit at its core is one of hope and resilience. We will show the world that our light will not be extinguished by the darkness of February 14."
Moments later, thousands of points of light appeared, as the entire crowd turned on mini flashlights they were handed at the entrance. Even in the very front row of grief, family members stood, turned on their lights and sang along to the NIU alma mater: "Thousands strong we sing your fame./ Free, steadfast, devoted, true./ We will always stand by you."
A final montage showed campus life before the tragedy. It showed the campus covered with fall leaves, kids in shorts, campus buildings at sunset, graduates, cheerleaders and, most noticeably, students smiling.
It was a reminder that classes would start again today.
When the students return, staff, alumni and 550 grief counselors will be on hand to ease their transition.
"We are moving forward," said Cherilyn Murer, chairman of the NIU board of trustees. "But we will meet each challenge with a bit more compassion, and a greater appreciation for human kindness."
Forward, together forward.
In their words ...
"Together, we are moving forward, but we will not forget."
-- Cherilyn Murer, Chairman, NIU board of trustees
"Somebody came into our family and killed five of our children. It was important for my wife and I to be here to honor not only the students who were slain, but all the students who were wounded as well. And to show our support to the university - just to be a part of the Huskie family."
-- Dennis Barsema, a member of the NIU Foundation Board, flew in from Mexico to attend the memorial service and, earlier, two students' funerals
"Forward, together, forward. ... Tonight, these words are especially poignant."
-- Frank Van Buer, Mayor of DeKalb
"We share your tears. We join in your prayers. You are not alone."
-- Richard Durbin, U.S. Senate
"Gayle.Catalina.Julianna.Ryanne.Daniel.Lives of great achievement and even greater potential."
-- Gov. Rod Blagojevich
"Our entire nation stands with you as you recover from this tragic event."
-- President George Bush's letter to NIU, as read by Michael Leavitt, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
"We will heal. We will prevail."
-- Judy Santacaterina, NIU student adviser
"The true Huskie spirit is one of hope and resilience."
-- Jarvis Parnell, president NIU Student Association
"Show the world that our light will not be extinguished by the darkness of February 14."
-- Eric Johnson, NIU music teacher
"And so we pray. Forward, together forward, our light will shine forever more."
-- Eddie R. Williams, NIU executive vice president
"Our hearts are heavy but our minds are resolute. We will not allow ourselves to be defined by this tragedy."
-- NIU President John Peters
"The whole situation's surreal, you never think it's going to happen at your school."