An Open Letter to the Community

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Dear Members of the DeKalb/Sycamore Community: On behalf of the students, faculty and staff of Northern Illinois University, I want to say thank you. Perhaps only in the darkest times do we see the true meaning of what surrounds us. We have seen that dark time. And as we have mourned those NIU students we have lost, and those who were wounded in body and spirit, we have witnessed something else. We have seen the kind of caring that can only come from a good and whole community. We have seen the courage and excellence of the community's first responders and caretakers - the police, fire, emergency medical personnel, the hospital, and many others. So many have come to our aid, and all in different ways. Each kind word, each offer of encouragement, each gesture, has been a gift. Today is the final day of our week of healing. Although in many ways that healing has only begun, it is the collective spirit of our community that has given us hope that tomorrow can be better. The capstone of our week of healing will be the Memorial service this evening at the NIU Convocation Center. The program begins at 7 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m. Several overflow locations around campus will be available, including the Holmes Student Center and the Barsema Alumni and Visitors Center. We invite you to join us. And in recognition of the likelihood that the NIU locations may exceed capacity, we want you to know that the program will be aired on Comcast cable channels. It can also be viewed via streaming video on our Web site, http://www.niu.edu. I personally want to thank each and every member of this great community. With your continued support and encouragement, I am confident we will find a way to move Forward, Together Forward.

Sincerely,

John G. Peters President of Northern Illinois University