We can not believe that the life we had with our son so recently, for so long, is gone, changed, and is in a mode of recovery and healing. When making plans and decisions we naturally think of Dan as though he is here, yet we realize the future we anticipated...

Ryanne Elizabeth Mace was born on May 13, 1988 to Eric and Mary Kay Mace, their only child and the light of their lives. She grew up mostly in northern Illinois cities, but did spend a couple of years living in the Portland, Oregon area as a child. She...

The afternoon of Feb. 14, 2008 seemed like any other day at Kishwaukee Community Hospital with people bringing flowers to patients and many of the departments going through shift changes. Shortly after 3 p.m., visitors of the hospital started asking about...

Gayle Dubowski did so much for me and for everyone who knew her, simply by being. I'm sure if I talked to everyone that knew Gayle, something new about her character would come out. But what struck a chord with me was just how she stood out, and even...

Offensive linemen aren't born, they're made. Nature doesn't make many 6-foot-4, 305-lb. men. So men, like Tim Mayerbock, work to beat nature. They take the bodies they are given and make them into moving walls. The transformation, however, comes with...

For a year NIU, DeKalb and Sycamore have collectively carried the memory of five students. Windows, office cubicles and restaurant walls all bare the image of a Huskie wrapped in black ribbon, and occasional glances at these mementos can bring a stream...

There may be community advisors on every floor, but only the C-Wing of Douglas Hall gets to experience the Honors House Leaders. Kate Braser, the program coordinator for the Honors Program, described the Honors House Leaders as being "the face" of the...

Julie's dreams weren't any different, than any other young girl. She wanted a loving husband and children and a home to take care of. She wanted to be close to her family and friends. Family and friends meant the most to Julie. Julie was very goal oriented...

While 18 people endured the physical wounds from the Feb. 14 shootings, the NIU community as a whole endured the emotional wounds. Tending to those emotional wounds were Micky Sharma, director of the Counseling and Student Development Center, and his...

One year after the Feb. 14 shootings, some NIU freshmen shared their reactions and stories about why they still chose NIU while others told them otherwise. Devon Harriss, freshman illustration major and DeKalb resident, was at her boyfriend's apartment...

On Feb. 14, 2008, Barbara Peters sat in Altgeld Hall designing a PowerPoint project for her upcoming presentation on women's studies month. Her husband, NIU President John Peters, passed by around 2 or 2:30 p.m. to say hello and briefly tease her about...

Eleven therapy dogs are coming back to comfort those on campus. The Animal Assisted Crisis Response team will be at NIU Feb. 10-16 and will be visiting various spots during that time, including at events on Feb. 14. Elizabeth Garcia, counselor for the...