Ceremony toned down for year six

By Northern Star Staff

Five bells will ring Friday to remember the five students lost in the Feb. 14, 2008, shooting.

The bells will recognize Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace and Daniel Parmenter.

“The bells serve as a reminder of the forward, together forward spirit of our students and community as we reflect and honor those lost,” said NIU President Doug Baker, according to NIU Today.

There will also be a campus-wide moment of silence.

“A moment of reflection is a way in which NIU can continue its tradition of marking an unforgettable moment in its history, remembering the resiliency of our community and, most importantly, honoring those we lost,” said Kelly Wesener Michael, associate vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, according to NIU Today.

The recipients of the Forward, Together Forward scholarship will also be named that day. The scholarship endowment was created to honor the memory of the victims.