Charlie Pajor hasn’t attended a class at NIU in over 30 years, but he was just as shocked when the Feb. 14 shootings occurred at his alma mater.

“In some ways it’s hard to believe it was just a year, and in other ways, it seems like it’s been longer than a year,” Pajor said of the anniversary.

The same feeling of disbelief is shared by many NIU alumni, whose thoughts will be with the university as the first anniversary of the tragedy approaches.

Joseph Matty, executive director of the NIU Alumni Association and NIU alumnus, said he expects for some alumni to attend the “NIU Remembers: A Legacy of Character” memorial event at the Convocation Center Saturday.

Matty said NIU alumni have not forgotten about the tragedy and many can’t believe that a year has gone past. He also said many were impressed with how the students and staff have really come together over the last year. Pajor, a 1978 alumnus who previously had classes in Cole Hall, said it was surreal thinking of what happened and watching the local news stations cover the shootings.

One year after the tragedy, Pajor, who describes himself as a proud NIU alumnus, is concerned that most people across the world will only think of the institution as a place where a random act of violence occurred and not think of NIU’s 100 years of academic excellence.

Recent alumna Clare Blumenstein had not yet graduated when the shootings occurred and was on campus upon hearing about the shootings.

Blumenstein, who graduated in May 2008, said the tragedy brought down her last semester, but has high hopes that the NIU campus will return to normalcy. And although a year has passed, she said she has kept items given out at the memorials as a way to remind herself of the victims.

“My heart still goes out to those who were lost and injured,” Blumenstein said. “The families are still in my prayers.”

Sean Connor, a 2007 graduate and former sports writer at the Northern Star, also has the first anniversary on his mind as he hopes to be able to attend some of Saturday’s memorial events.

After walking past Cole Hall for the first time, Connor said it was hard trying to imagine what happened that day.

“It’s just a constant reminder of what we need to do as people to keep everyone safe,” he said.

As a recent graduate, Connor said it is hard to give back as much financially, so he tries to give back when he can in other ways. For example, he spoke to a group of student teachers since now he currently teaches math at Naperville North High School.

“I’ve always cared for NIU and anything that NIU needs me to do, I’m willing to do,” Connor said.