Posted: 2/19/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Wesley Fane Students gather outside the Illini Union on Monday night for a vigil to honor the victims of the NIU shooting. Chancellor Richard Herman spoke, as well as other members of the campus administration and the community.

The wind whipped across the microphone on the Quad on Monday night, interrupting a moment of silence at a vigil held for the five students who were killed at Northern Illinois University on Thursday.

About 500 students gathered for 30 minutes of speeches meant to unite the campus in solidarity for those affected by the tragedy at NIU.

"This hits so close to home that our defense mechanisms are down, we can see ourselves in that classroom," said Renee Romano, vice chancellor for Student Affairs.

Romano and the other speakers stressed the importance of coming together as a community to deal with this situation.

She also suggested students utilize campus counseling resources to reach out to those in need.

"Our power is in the Illinois community," Romano said. "Our strength comes from one another."

Stephen Kazmierczak, the alleged gunman, was a graduate student in the School of Social Work.

Wynne Korr, dean of the School of Social Work, spoke at the vigil about the importance of working to prevent violence and promote healing.

"Even though the shooting took place in DeKalb, the sadness has touched us all in that very tender place, the heart," Korr said.

As Korr and the other speakers addressed the crowd, some people tried to light candles, but struggled in the wind.

Others sniffled and stared somberly at the ground.

"Because of my friends at NIU, this hit close to home," said Jake Sicinski, freshman in LAS.

"I decided to brave the cold and give them a tribute because I think they deserve it."

The vigil, which opened with the songs by the Black Chorus, closed with "Amazing Grace" by the Girls Next Door.

As the song concluded, students began to leave slowly, unsure at first whether the vigil had ended.

Some filed into the Illini Union to write their condolences in a ledger book which Student Body President Justin Randall said he will deliver to the Northern Illinois campus this upcoming weekend.

"I'm going to write, 'Stay strong. Never let go,'" Sicinski said.

"It seems like a good thing to say to my friends at NIU, because it's hard to comprehend all that happened."

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