Northern Illinois students ready to return to the classroom

DEKALB -- The hugs were a little tighter and the goodbyes a little longer Sunday as parents brought their children back to Northern Illinois University, 10 days after a shooting rampage left five students dead.

And the young adults were left figuring out how to cope.

"It's not just a set way to move forward, you just have to let whatever's going to happen, happen," said freshman Ashley Harrah, 19, of Wheaton.

Many students said they couldn't wait to get back to class and their campus routines, something they said would help them deal with the shootings. Classes were canceled last week; they resume today.

"I don't like being on break because it kind of throws you off track," said Yasmine Davis, 18, of Chicago.

Getting back to campus was more difficult, though, for some parents.

It's hard letting your child return to the school without knowing what the future holds, said Jeff Browley of Country Club Hills. Browley's daughter Jasmine is a freshman and weighing whether she'll finish her education at the school.

"I just told her she just had to put it in God's hands and hope something like that never happens again," he said.

During the weeklong break from class, David Chwalek, 18, of Bensenville, didn't have his parents to talk to because they were spending time in Mexico. Not wanting to be alone in his dorm room the day everyone left, he and a friend spent the time together to ease their sorrow and fears.

And while he was away from school, he attended classes at the College of DuPage with another friend because he couldn't stand the idea of dealing with the tragedy alone.

"I just wanted to be with someone," he said.

Students had nothing but kind words for the way the university's administration handled the incident and its aftermath.

They also offered condolences to the families of the five victims slain by the lone gunman and for the loved ones of the shooter.

And while the presence of the media on the university has been stressful and annoying for some, other students view it as an opportunity to aid in the healing process.

"It's better to talk about it than to keep it in," said freshman Kendall Hill, 18, of Lombard.