For campus police chief Don Grady, Tuesday’s tragedies in Washington, D.C., and New York were something he, like any American, had never seen.

“I was appalled,” Grady said. “An attack on American soil was a difficult thing for any of us to deal with, but at the same time we have to, I think, be very careful about rushing to judgment and pointing fingers and trying to place blame. At this point I see a lot of that going on.”

In response to NIU having school today, Grady said, “I think mourning is an appropriate thing and there could be an attempt to do a session where people can get together and commiserate. I think that would be appropriate. In the face of such a catastrophic event, we also need to maintain some sense of normalcy.”

NIU has maintained campus security, as usual.

“The things that Northern has done in order to ensure that the campus is safe and secure are very appropriate, very timely,” Grady said. “Everything has been done that could be done to ensure the safety and security of every student, faculty, staff member and visitor on this campus.”

Grady said the effects of Tuesday’s events were felt all over campus.

“Any incident of that magnitude affects every place in specific ways. To try to identify the specific impact that that event has on NIU, I think that any of us at this point would be hard pressed to say what those specific impacts would be. Certainly there are students here feeling very, very anxious as a result of the incident.”

Grady felt very proud of the way NIU students have handled the situation.

“I have been walking around on campus to take a look at what’s going on and get a general feel. I am very proud of the way people here at NIU have handled this crisis,” Grady said. “They are doing very well. That goes from the staff to the students. Everyone has absolutely been really good about how they have handled this whole crisis.”

Grady felt NIU students should continue to deal with their grief in a positive way.

“One should continue being as rational and contingent to the issue as they have been and to respect and care about one another and help those who may need assistance,” Grady said. “Give blood at your earliest convenience.”