Cole Hall demolition 'off the table'?

SPRINGFIELD -- Northern Illinois University's president and DeKalb-area lawmakers are now rethinking plans to demolish the university building that was the scene of a horrific campus shooting just last month.

Only a week ago, NIU President John Peters stood with those lawmakers and Gov. Rod Blagojevich in announcing Cole Hall would be torn down and a new, $40 million "Memorial Hall" would be built with state financing.

But that plan created immediate controversy, with everyone from trauma experts to taxpayers saying the idea was well intentioned but nonetheless a mistake. Others accused the governor and NIU officials of trying to use the tragedy for political gain.

More Coverage Links Letter from NIU Pres. John Peters [03/04/08]

On Tuesday, Peters sent a letter to all students, faculty and staff acknowledging more input was needed on Cole Hall's future.

"I have expressed my own view that we should decommission Cole Hall as a classroom building. I made that judgment after talking with scores of students, parents, faculty and alumni who told me they could not fathom returning to Cole Hall to teach or study," Peters said in the letter. "In the days that have followed that tragic event, different voices and opinions have emerged, and we must take in all those viewpoints before moving forward."

On Feb. 14, a former NIU graduate student walked into a lecture hall in Cole Hall and opened fire, killing five and wounding at least 16 before killing himself.

Peters' letter came as area lawmakers began distancing themselves from any rush to demolish the building.

"There has been some urgency to some of the things that were done and I'm not sure that urgency is necessary," state Rep. Bob Pritchard told the Daily Herald. "We do have time to have a discussion on what the future of Cole Hall is."

Pritchard's district includes the NIU campus. State Sen. Brad Burzynski, whose district also covers NIU, told the Rockford Register Star that demolition was "off the table."

"Demolition is going to be taken off the table, and what I think is going to occur now is there is going to be discussion on campus of if there is good use for the building, what it should be and those kinds of things," he told the paper.

Only a week ago, both Republican lawmakers had stood with the governor and Peters as the demolition and plans for a new Memorial Hall were unveiled.

"It is time to tear down the walls of Cole Hall. The wounds of this tragedy are still so very fresh," Pritchard said then. "The legislation that is being drafted is our enduring effort to fully pay tribute to the victims and bring about closure for the student body."

But on Tuesday, Pritchard said the project's bottom line had created a backlash, and there was growing sentiment against demolition.

"The reaction of the public is one I'm glad to see, actually," said Pritchard. "The state has been spending way more money than it has."

Both DeKalb-area lawmakers said far more discussion is needed.

"I know the Northern campus appreciates the governor's attention to this #8230; but I think now that we have that attention, we need to make sure the proposals we put forward are thoughtful," said Pritchard.

The governor's office, however, has repeatedly pointed out that Northern Illinois University officials came up with the idea and brought it to the state for consideration.

A spokeswoman said the governor supports the university, and the future of Cole Hall is NIU's call.

"We support President Peters and NIU and whatever decision they make in moving forward," said Rebecca Rausch.