Perspective Editor Michael Swiontek jotted down some thoughts he had as the day progressed Monday.

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Several media outlets descended on DeKalb reacting to the shutdown of campus Monday.

A slow news day in their cities pushed them out-of-town to focus on their readers’ children.

Television media from the Chicago and Rockford area first came to DeKalb at the New Hope Community Missionary Baptist Church and proceeded to the campus to talk to students.

CBS 2 Chicago news reporter Derrick Blakley said Peters’ exit before the media finished asking questions was “ridiculous.”

It was clear Peters was more concerned with students’ safety then the media coverage as he scurried off to the dorms to calm students’ nerves.

Student leaders, focused on by several cameras, inexperienced with this large stage, expressed their concerns about the racially charged threat.

About 15 different media members scrambled to talk to students and NIU officials at the remote church on the northwest side of town.

In what they called a demonstration of solidarity, students stood behind leaders on campus while they addressed the media.