The DeKalb City Council addressed the Feb. 14 shooting during Monday’s meeting.

Beginning the meeting with a moment of silence, Mayor Frank Van Buer and the council issued a proclamation in support of the university and community as a whole regarding the Cole Hall shooting.

Van Buer read the proclamation, saying the citizens of DeKalb share in the sorrow, pain and anguish of the university and are encouraging people to express their grief and support for the survivors, families and friends of NIU.

Council members individually addressed the public as well.

First Ward Alderman Bertrand Simpson Jr. compared the university to a living being.

“It has a soul, it has a spirit, it has a motivating force,” Simpson said. “That motivating force has been tested.”

Despite the fact that community members’ sense of security may have been injured, Simpson said he hopes their sense of humanity and community remains intact.

Van Buer, 4th Ward Alderman Donna Gorski and 2nd Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen each expressed pride in the community-wide response to the shooting.

Gorski asked citizens to “try to do at least one random act of kindness every day.”

AFSCME members make fourth appearance

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) attended the meeting, with city employees addressing the council. One employee, Patty Raih, a secretary to the planning and zoning division of community development said DeKalb AFSCME employees represent a combined 1,037 years of service.

“I ask not only as a City of DeKalb employee but also a citizen that you please vote ‘no’ to any city of DeKalb layoffs,” Raih said to the council.

Both Raih and Mike Taylor, AFSCME Local 813 president, brought to the council’s attention that the number of union members was far fewer at this council meeting because many members were out working to clear the roads during Monday night’s snowfall.