I’ve been trying to organize my thoughts and formulate words since I saw the front page of the Northern Star, but truth be told, words escape me of such a horrific act. No, I do not speak of the Valentine’s Day shooting. Though that tragedy has been forever engraved into my mind, no, I’m referring to the burning of one of the crosses that stood just outside of the Lutheran Campus Ministry building.

Ever since the event, the LCM has been on the receiving end of much ridicule and resentment just for the fact that they had erected a cross for Steven Kazmierczak alongside the five victims that lost their lives at his hand.

First off, I do agree with and respect LCM for their bold move of erecting a cross for Kazmierczak. I’ve followed the argument back and forth of people writing in how they think there either should or shouldn’t be a cross for him.

What I don’t seem to understand is why this is such an atrocity. The purpose of the cross is not to memorialize the lives lost in the shooting. The cross is there to represent the passing of one’s soul, through Christ, into the next world. The cross is a symbol for salvation. Many times I heard that Steven Kazmierczak is burning in hell right now, but why is it that anyone says that phrase about any person? When did God come down from the heavens and tell you that He is taking a break from passing judgment on the souls of the departed and left you in charge?

It is not in our nature and never has been to condemn another person to death or to go to hell for that matter. With that subject aside, the fact that someone burned a cross is an atrocious act.

I remember the words of NIU President John Peters, “An act of violence does not define us.” We rallied around those words and yet here we have something that could very well define the way we think at this institution. The act of burning a cross is a malicious and terrible symbol, still used today by the KKK and other groups that hate what it represents.

I wonder what the one responsible is thinking as he sees his action announced to the entire university. What good can come from such a terrible crime? What is it that was accomplished by burning the cross? I am severely disappointed at the lack of maturity that has been displayed on this campus in reference to the shooting. I agree that this is a very emotional and very vulnerable time that we as a school are going though, but this act in its entirety was completely uncalled for and should be shunned outright. Dire consequences should await the person responsible for this heinous act.

James Rangel
Senior, time arts major

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