For finding itself in arguably a no-win situation, NIU has responded quite well.

On July 14, Governor Pat Quinn signed a capital bill into law that contains funds for new technology, deferred maintenance, renovation of the Stevens Building and renovation of Cole Hall.

Finally, after more than a year, an $8 million budget passed for Cole Hall’s renovation can bring some sense of closure for the community.

According to a July 27 Northern Star article, the plans for the building are to renovate Room 101, where the February 14 shootings occurred for non-classroom use, and for “extensive remodeling” for Room 102.

Although the plans for the building may not be ideal, NIU is taking necessary and appropriate actions.

Decisions about Cole Hall were hard to make and we must recognize the gravity of NIU’s situation in order to see that there was never a real easy solution.

It may be undesirable and seem illogical to tear down a working building. When one considers the circumstances, however, the same could be said about not taking action to in some way reconstruct the building for the sake of an appropriate learning environment.

To elaborate, pundits may suggest leaving the building fully intact, so taxpayers’ money is not wasted for an unnecessary project.

But talk to any NIU student present on February 14, 2008, and they will probably inform such pundits just how inconsiderate their monetary-based suggestion really is.

Since the incident occurred in one classroom and the building is still in working condition, a full demolition would be deemed unnecessary and a misuse of materials.

Until the current decision was made, NIU administrators had been in a very delicate position.
Obviously, very careful consideration was needed for the right course of action for the fate of Cole Hall.

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