In response to the Sept. 11 attacks, the Campus Activities Board rallied support from numerous campus organizations and began a collection to help support fellow American citizens in need.

“One of our goals was to get the student organizations to work together on this project,” said Mike Brady, CAB President and collection campaign co-coordinator. “We had 11 organizations help out with the campaign. This really helped students unite to help out the victims of Sept. 11.”

The fundraiser included help from campus organizations such as Forensics, SAA, NAACP, OMEGA, DELTA, PAA, Mortar Board, Pi Sigma Epsilon, Circle K, the NIU Student Association and CAB. Overall, the fundraiser raised $1,640.08 to benefit the disparaged Americans. After the fundraiser, the money was given to TCF Bank, which then matched the donation and gave it to the American Red Cross.

“This was most definitely a success. I was very surprised and delighted to see how much support the students were willing to give,” Brady said. “After working on this project, I realized how proud I am of this school and community. There are so many things to be proud of and thankful for.”

Katie Pica, collection co-coordinator and Star office manager, said that by talking to fellow classmates and friends, she found that many people felt the same way she did.

“In the following days of the Sept. 11, 2001, I felt helpless and angry,” Pica said. “I wanted to do something to help but when I went to donate blood, they didn’t need anymore.”

The fundraiser helped to give members of the NIU community a chance to help out in many ways.

“This gave the students and faculty a chance to help out the victims and their families,” Pica said. “All of the volunteers who spent hours collecting the money or making the ribbons and everyone who donated money should be proud of themselves. Their efforts and money are helping people whose lives have been turned upside down.”