News
Monday, February 16, 2015
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In Brief
COB asking for business pitches Northern Star staff
DeKalb | The College of Business is holding the Pitch with a CAUSE competition for anyone who has ideas for social business, according to a news release from the Collegiate Association of Unreasonable Social Entrepreneurs. Idea submissions are due March 6. Full business plans are not required. Competitors can enter individually or in teams. Competitors will be notified with their results via email by March 20, according to the College of Business website. The first place prize is $1,500, second place is $1,000 and third place is $500, according to the release. Go to bit.ly/1zSNghr to submit an application. Go to bit. ly/17uY62O for more information.
Nick Smith | Northern Star
Kaitlyn King (left) and Joe Palmer, recipients of the 2014 Forward, Together Forward Scholarship, lay flowers by Gayle Dubowski’s memorial stone at a ceremony Saturday. The ceremony honored those lost when gunman Steven Kazmierczak killed five students before killing himself on Feb. 14, 2008, in Cole Hall. The scholarship is given to students who best embody the qualities of the shooting victims.
Community honors Feb. 14 victims Kelly Bauer Editor in Chief T @BauerJournalism
DeKalb | The families of the Feb.
14, 2008, shooting victims were accompanied by friends and community members at a quiet remembrance ceremony Saturday. At 3:06 p.m., they listened as NIU’s bell chimed five times. They looked at each name — Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace and Daniel Parmenter — on the memorial stones in the Peaceful Reflection Garden outside Cole Hall and paused to talk to each other. They hugged, laughed and cried, and some put down flowers or candles. The memorial honored those who were lost when gunman Steven Kazmierczak killed five students before killing himself in 2008 in Cole Hall. “It’s hard to imagine that it’s been seven years already,” said Linda Greer, mother of Parmenter. The Greers were accompanied by the families of the other victims, NIU employees and groups
of present and former students, but the Saturday ceremony featured a smaller crowd and was quieter than in years past. NIU decided to scale back the event, which previously featured a wreath-laying procession and speeches from NIU’s president and politicians, in 2014 to reflect “the continued healing of our campus community, while still ensuring that Gayle, Catalina, Julianna, Ryanne and Daniel are not forgotten,” according to an NIU announcement at the time.
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It’s hard to imagine that it’s been seven years already.” Linda Greer Mother of shooting victim Dan Parmenter
Despite the change, the memorial remains a gathering place for those who wish to remember and honor the victims of the shooting on its anniversary. Cirse Vertti, who graduated in 2010, wept as she deposited white flowers at each of
the memorial stones outside Cole Hall. Saturday was her first time at the remembrance ceremony, though she said she has wanted to attend for years. Vertti and a friend attended “just to kind of pay our respects to the people who died and see what was done for them,” she said. Though Vertti did not know the victims, she can remember being in DuSable Hall during the shooting and subsequent lockdown. She was in a room on the second floor and was able to call her mother and let her know she was OK. When a woman fleeing Cole Hall “came knocking at every door,” asking to be let in, Vertti and her companion brought her into their room. Once they realized the severity of the shooting, which left six dead and more than 20 people injured, the lockdown “seemed like forever,” Vertti said. Though it was hard to be at NIU Saturday, Vertti said she would like to attend the ceremony in the future. Joseph Dubowski, father of Gayle Dubowski, said he and his
Scholarship recipients The Forward, Together Forward Scholarship is given to five students that best embody the qualities of the Feb. 14, 2008, shooting victims. Here are the 2015 scholarship recipients: • Courtney Crutchfield • Samantha Garbacz • Elizabeth Garcia • Tara Lenardi • Anthony Roberts
wife, Laurel, find ways to honor their daughter every year besides attending the ceremony and a luncheon for the Forward, Together Forward Scholarship. The Dubowskis and Greers said they have also found healing in their faith, as both families believe they will see their children again. It’s “just a question of time,” said Robert Greer, Parmenter’s stepfather and Linda Greer’s husband. “We look forward to that,” Joseph Dubowski said.
Senate debates adding historian position Ashley Morse Staff writer T @amnorthernstar
DeKalb | After a 40-minute debate, the Student Association Senate passed a bill to allow the creation of a SA historian position with a 19-13 vote. The historian will be responsible for archiving minutes, legislation and campaign details of the Senate. The Senate approved the position af- Brandon ter a long and Phillips heated debate as Student Associaseveral senators tion senator commented on how the position encompassed the duties of several other SA Senate positions. The idea for someone to archive
Senate meetings was proposed by Senator Alex Summers. Senator Brandon Phillips, along with Senate Speaker Dillon Domke, had written up the bill, which set up several key points in the historian’s job. Phillips, as a history major, said he felt the historian position is needed because there has been little information about the Senate since its inception in 1968. “One of the biggest problems of the Senate that has plagued us ... is that we cannot see what we have done in the past,” Phillips said. “There is very little saved material in the Senate office and there’s no material in the archive as well at the” Founders Memorial Library. After doing research about student governments at other universities, Phillips said the lack of an archive for NIU’s student government
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One of the biggest problems of the Senate that has plagued us ... is that we cannot see what we have done in the past ... There is very little saved material in the Senate office and there’s no material in the archive as well at the” Founders Memorial Library. Brandon Phillips Student Association senator
was a disappointment. Several senators said Phillips’ proposed bill needed to be revised. Senator Rachel Gorsuch said having the historian be in charge of managing and collecting the Senate election campaign material while he or she is running for elections would be an overwhelming amount of work.
Phillips responded to Gorsuch and said it would not necessarily be an senator who would be responsible for this position. Senator Leon Kincaid expressed concern that the position was specifically designed for a history major and with an intended bias for Phillips to become historian. “While it would be great for a history major to be the historian since they would know what to look for in terms of things of historical importance ... we’re just looking for anyone who has the experience in archiving materials,” Phillips said. Kincaid motioned for the bill to be reviewed by the SA’s Rules and Procedures Committee and for the bill to be moved to next week. Both motions were denied and the bill was passed.
Smash Tour set to celebrate at Convo Northern Star staff
DeKalb | The Lucas Oil Monster Truck Nationals is celebrating the Bigfoot Birthday Bash 3 p.m. on Sunday in the Convocation Center, according to the Convocation Center website. This event is part of the Smash Tour in celebration of the original monster truck celebrating its 40th birthday in 2015. There will be a special Pit Party two hours before the performance to allow families a chance to see the monster trucks close up, according to the Convocation Center’s website. Advance tickets cost $17, day-of-show tickets cost $20 and Gold Circle seats cost $32. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to bit. ly/1uRlqSD.
Casting Crowns to play at Convo Northern Star staff
DeKalb | Christian rock band Casting Crowns will perform 7 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Convocation Center, according to a flier. Casting Crowns is an awardwinning religious singing group, according to the Convo’s website. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $20 for groups of 10 or more, and groups receive one free ticket. Tickets bought in advance cost $27. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to bit. ly/1EnLy7p or call 815-752-6800.
Corn Fest up for best event RAMI Northern Star staff
DeKalb | Corn Fest is nominated for a Rockford Area Music Industry award. Corn Fest, a DeKalb festival which hosts bands and performers every fall downtown, is nominated for Best Special Event for the 24th Annual RAMI Awards. Voting closes at midnight March 21. Go to bit.ly/1KPcQrd to vote for categories such as favorite radio station, venue, special event and artist of the year.