The chief spokesperson for NIU addressed the media in a small press briefing Saturday afternoon to speak about what the university is doing to move forward.

“What I’m here to talk to you about is what the university is doing as we move forward and begin to resume operations,” Magara said in the conference.

Magara continued on to read a letter from president John Peters that had been e-mailed to students, faculty and staff.

“Our campus family has endured a tragedy of unfathomable proportions this week,” the letter reads.

The letter addresses three key issues that administration stressed to students.
As for the resumption of operations, faculty and staff are being asked to return to work on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Classes are scheduled to resume Monday, February 25. Beginning this Tuesday, faculty and staff will receive information and training to help students upon resumption of classes.

“The emergency team convened by the president has been working quite hard at some very practical issues that have to do with the reopening of our university, have to do with the resumption of classes and have to do with the return to normalcy to the extent that there can be a return to normalcy after an event of these horrific proportions,” Magara said.

The letter also announced the plans for a memorial service to be held at the NIU Convocation Center on Sunday, Feb. 24. The service will initiate a set of activities and services focused on community healing expected to continue throughout the semester.

Campus security was the final issue addressed in the letter, stating that all resources are now being focused on campus security and physical police presence on campus.

“The issue...we’re getting is certainly the reality of security, Magara said. “The checking of buildings, but also the physical presence. We recognize that the campus to which our students, faculty and our staff will be returning is one that may experience continuing sense of nervousness.”

Magara stressed the importance of police presence on campus to ensure a feeling of safety among students and staff.

“In addition to the actual stepped-up security measures, we also want to make sure that our police officers are very visible and in buildings and particularly in and around student areas,” Magara said.

Magara went on to say that outside security resources have been generated in order to handle routine issues while the efforts of NIU police, DeKalb police and federal authorities are focused on the issues at hand.

Magara said that students should expect to attend classes originally scheduled in Cole Hall in other buildings around campus.

“At this point, Cole Hall will remain closed, it appears, for the remainder of the semester,” Magara said. “Beyond that, the discussion has not progressed any further.”

Magara also spoke about the possibility of a future memorial on campus.

“There’s been a lot of discussions about memorials,” Magara said. “There have been numerous suggestions about memorials. We’re not really there yet in terms of selection of that.”

Magara said that the university would like to combine the efforts of all of those offering ideas and contributions into “something singular and memorable and appropriate” in the future.

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