Questions? Hotline has answers

By Kyla Gardner

DeKALB | The Crisis Response Team of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management has established an information hotline to answer questions students may have about NIU during the missing student Antinette “Toni” Keller homicide investigation.

Brandi Hephner LaBanc, associate vice president for Student Affairs, said the hotline is in response to confusion students have had about campus security changes because of conflicting media reports.

Hotline staff have been able to clarify questions of changes to hall access, the Late Night Ride service and that the campus is not on lockdown, she said.

Students also have had questions about the proximity of Prairie Park to campus, and whether the human remains were found on campus, which they were not.

The hotline is staffed by four to six Student Affairs and Enrollment Management employees and volunteers and has fielded between 10 to 20 calls a day, depending on the developments in the investigation, LeBanc said.

The hotline transfers calls regarding details of the investigation that are not public knowledge to NIU Police.

LeBanc said the hotline can help students in uncertain times when they want answers to questions from a “real person.”

“Sometimes you need to connect with a real person and that makes you feel better,” she said.


Information Hotline

815-753-4NIU (4648)

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m

Monday through Friday