As the NIU administration, faculty and students meet and debate on a permanent memorial to honor the victims of the Feb. 14 shootings, others have taken the initiative and created their own.

One prominent memorial is the message walls in the King Memorial Commons. Brian Hemphill, vice president of Student Affairs, said he requested the walls to be established in the wake of the tragedy.

“I knew that our students would need a place to reflect, to share ideas, to share their sadness,” Hemphill said. Hemphill added that these walls would help aid in the healing of the community.

As the number of comments grew, so did the number of walls. There are currently four walls in MLK commons, and Hemphill said there are no plans to add a fifth.

Eventually, the walls will be taken down at an appropriate time and stored in a secured location, Hemphill said. However, they will make an appearance next year.

“They will be put back on display during the anniversary of the incident, in which the university will have some form of remembrance program,” Hemphill said.

LCM’s crosses

Another memorial having an impact on campus are the crosses in front of the Lutheran Campus Ministry. Campus pastor Diane Dardón said the crosses were put up the Friday morning after the shooting.

On each of the crosses, there are messages from the families and friends of the victims, Dardón said. In addition, red, black and purple fabric strips have been adorned on them.

Unlike the crosses near the MLK commons, six crosses stand outside the LCM. Dardón said their decision to add the sixth cross – one for the shooter, Steven Kazmierczak – was based on their experiences with Virginia Tech.

“Last April, when Virginia Tech experienced their tragedy, our community went through moral deliberations on what to do,” Dardón said. She added that they placed six crosses outside the ministry after learning that Virginia Tech had erected 33 crosses in the wake of the tragedy at that university.

“This time, there was no discussion. It was simply what we did,” Dardón said in regard to the sixth cross.

Dardón said the crosses serve as reminders that all are equal before God, and that in the end, what matters are the victims.

“Six are dead. Six families are grieving. Six children of God are gone,” Dardón said.

Dardón said the crosses will remain standing until the end of the school year.

However, white ribbons will be placed on the crosses to symbolize hope.

In addition to the crosses, Dardón said the ministry is in the process of having the area in front of the LCM declared an international peace park.

“It will be a place for remembering six, always. It will also be a place for peace that, for the Christian community, comes from the cross,” Dardón said.