John Peters has served eight years as NIU President. This past year, he has faced the national media, emergency situations and has sought legislation to improve the NIU campus. The Northern Star had the opportunity to speak with Peters regarding Feb. 14 and the future of the university.

Northern Star: Roughly when can we expect to see changes regarding Cole Hall?

John Peters: Boy, I hope it’s soon; we went [to Springfield] with several trustees yesterday [Wednesday] and I visited with many leaders and went in to see the governor’s staff, who [we] talked to throughout this and we presented the results of what I consider … the most extensive involvement process in a decision that I’ve ever been associated with in my long career. And I think we have a plan now that, it’s a replacement plan, it’s not perfect, but I think it’s the best we can do and I’m comfortable with it. Even if we had the money today, this is potentially a two-year project and there may be ways we can phase it; those are decisions that will have to wait whether we have approval of this … but certainly next year. … My hope is that when we’re done with it, we have something that we can all be proud of, that’s dignified, cost-effective and moves us forward, because it’s about students.

NS: During the events of Feb. 14, what advice did the president of Virginia Tech share with you?

JP: They were so spontaneous and wanted to help because they understood. They went through it first. They wanted to share [their experiences] with us. It was humbling, extremely humbling and it continues to this day…Our situation was a little different from theirs in that they pretty much ended their semester…We had to finish out a semester that tested the character of the institution and the students, faculty and staff, and I believe they’ve come through beautifully, but everybody heals at a different pace.

NS: In regard to the tragedy, what lessons have you learned as president and what lessons has the NIU community learned?

JP: … What I really learned was the strength of our young people and the way they recovered and the soundness of their thinking; it was very impressive. The strength of the families, and the students in the classroom … was remarkable. With regards to the students, it renewed my already strong belief in this generation of young people … What I see when I look into the eyes of our young people, I see now a strength of character and a commitment to helping each other, and I knew it was there, but it slapped me right in the face. It just makes me want to work all that harder for NIU and its students.

NS: What lasting effect will the events of Feb. 14 have on NIU?

JP: …It’s been two months or so, and as we sit here, the recovery has been remarkable…I am optimistic about the future. I am even more optimistic now because I have seen how we have dealt with tragedy and the world has seen it…I am very proud of this institution and the [way the] world has seen how a great academic institution handles tragedy. Personally, it has energized me to work even harder for NIU students, to get closer to them. I have tried to raise money and work on our image and bring the best people I can to the university. It’s changed me, in it’s renewed my faith in our students and it’s motivated me to work even harder.

NS: We’ve had a couple threats on campus since Feb. 14; how do we move forward when we’re having this happen?

JP: I think we have moved forward. With that being said, we live in this world of copycats, troubled individuals and people manipulating large institutions, and I think after we had a bomb threat, which [isn’t] routine, but people have bomb threats all the time. We handled it in a routine way and the media overreacted [with] helicopters overhead. And then we had a graffiti incident; everybody’s been having graffiti incidents. How many Chicago institutions closed down because of it? … We’re handling this the proper way … We’re in a Feb. 14 environment and we have to provide a [sense of] security and calmness to our people. I do sense a turning of the corner on this, and I think we’ve helped in the ways we have handled the recent incidents. We live in a different world and we are going to have to adjust to that and I don’t think we’ve adjusted yet … We’re setting an example [of the] kind of environment [that] is worth fighting for. I see courage and strength. That’s the mood I see. Let’s face it, we’re the safest campus in America right now.

NS: As president, what are your goals for NIU next year?

JP: They haven’t changed. We’re just going to work at them harder. In spite of all this – we had a flood, we had a graffiti incident, we had the tragic day of February 14 – we’re having 2,500 undergraduates [and 1,000 graduate students] receiving their degree next week. That’s what we’re about and that’s a celebration. That’s the celebration of a lot of hard work, those people will have a quality collegiate degree and there going to go out and do great things. This year we got our certificate of exemption to do our proton therapy project. We will be welcoming a lot of new faculty…We are hopefully completing our capital campaign True North to raise 150 million dollars. I hope we have some exciting athletics so I’m optimistic and can’t wait to get the fall started. We’ve got challenges – we’ve been set back a little bit by Feb. 14 – but come August, [we’ll be] ready to move forward again.

NS: What’s your fondest memory of this past school year?

JP: … When I spoke at the vigil for Virginia Tech and I looked out over the sea of students with those T-shirts on and holding the candles in historic King Memorial Commons. To me, the atmosphere was electric with caring and concern and strength. That was one fine moment, a poignant moment. There were many highlights of the year, but that was it.

NS: What message do you have for current students who have been through this year?

JP: They have experienced a life-changing event and the way they handled it will prepare them for the future. They have experienced how a large organization can come together and care for one another. We know [what’s] important now and what isn’t. That’s going to sustain us as we move forward, and for the students, they carry that their whole life.

NS: What message do you have for prospective students of NIU, those that will be coming here this year?

JP: If I were a student, I would really want to come to NIU. You’ve got a bunch of great professors who really care, great advising systems, a great student body that really cares; it’s a real-life situation where you can really learn. I’d send my granddaughter who’s going to be born in August. I hope she’s going to be a Huskie. I’m going to start saving money for tuition for her.

NS: In retrospect, is there anything you would do differently this year, knowing what you know now?

JP: I wish it didn’t happen, but that wasn’t the case. I haven’t had the time to think about that. I wish there were things that I could do differently to make it not happen, but I’m afraid that’s not the kind of world we live in. It’s too early for me to say that. I’m going to do some thinking on that this summer, but that may even be too soon.

NS: At any time did it cross your mind that this was too much for you to handle? Are there any thoughts of retirement in the near future?

JP: …No, I didn’t think about that too much. I was raised on a farm and this was the job, and I had to do it and we had so many good people to help out and I enjoy being president here. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed some of the things we’ve gone through this year, but most days when I get up, I can’t wait to get going.

NS: You haven’t really granted a lot of interviews after the press conferences; why is that?

JP: There was a period of time where I made myself…available. I had to focus on the parents and the students of this university and getting ready for the decisions…I didn’t have anything more to say at that time. The other thing was, this became a national and international story and I wanted to play fair to all the media, and if you give one an interview, you have to give them all. Except, I always believe that the Northern Star and the [Daily] Chronicle should get first crack because they’re here. All of the sudden, I am spending all my time saying the same thing over and over again, without new information, when my responsibility is to the students and to the faculty. It wasn’t because I was hiding something – I have always been open.

NS: Do you have any regrets about the news conference with the governor?

JP: It was his news conference. The governor went through Cole Hall with me and others … soon after. You couldn’t go through it in its … condition and not be moved by what had happened. I had said to him, “I’m going to need some help, but I don’t know if we can ever go back in here.” One thing lead to another and I think we had a good plan and it’s just that, in those emotional days, perhaps we should have slowed down a bit … The other thing is that we had an emergency situation and if we didn’t get started on it right away you know … it’s still going to be 18 to 24 months before we’ve got some replacements in place.

… Every school district, every community, every university [has] the needs for roads and bridges and buildings. We haven’t had a capital bill in eight years and there’s pent-up frustration at Springfield … about this. So, Cole Hall in some way brought that to life. But that being said, it’s not about a building. It’s about [an] emergency situation where our students and faculty need a reasonable modern place to do their teaching and learning.

NS: Is there anything else you want students to know?

JP: I hope they are studied up for finals and I look forward to seeing them, and wish them a great summer, a refreshing summer and also a productive summer. Get ready for a great academic year. For those that are graduating, I look forward to shaking their hands on the 17th, and move forward, together forward.