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Northern Star

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The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

The Student News Site of Northern Illinois University

Northern Star

Family members and friends of victims of the 2008 shooting, alongside NIU community members, stand together as a crowd during the 15-year memorial, held at 3:06 p.m. as the bells of the Holmes Student Center echoed through campus. (Sean Reed | Northern Star)

IN PICTURES: NIU looks forward, together 15 years after tragic shooting

By Sean Reed, Photo Editor | February 14, 2023

DeKALB – A vigil was held Tuesday in remembrance of the victims of the Feb. 14, 2008 shooting that took place within the walls of Cole Hall that chilling Valentine’s Day. 15 years later, the university holds its annual “Forward Together Forward”...

The Peaceful Reflection Garden outside Cole Hall honors the five students lost to the mass shooting in 2008.

Annual Forward, Together, Forward vigil held Tuesday

By Kaitlyn Lee-Gordon, News Reporter | February 12, 2023

DeKALB – NIU will hold its annual moment of reflection for the students lost to the mass shooting on Feb. 14, 2008: Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace and Daniel Parmenter. Five bells will toll at 3:06 p.m. Tuesday to pay...

The Forward, Together Forward memorial outside Cole Hall honors the lives of the five students lost in the Feb. 14, 2008, shooting.

Open Letter: To the NIU community

By Northern Star Staff | February 18, 2019

It is with heavy hearts we mourn the loss of two members of the NIU family: student Trevor Wehner and alumnus Clayton Parks.One day following the anniversary of the shooting that took place on our own campus Valentine’s Day of 2008, the lives of two...

Shooting survivors united during wreath laying ceremony

By Lindsey Salvatelli | February 15, 2018

A flower laid on top of Ryanne Mace’s memorial on the 10-year anniversary of the Cole Hall shooting Wednesday Feb. 14.

The Forward Together: Remembering exhibit will be on display Feb. 14

By Northern Star Staff | February 8, 2018

DeKALB — Holmes Student Center opens tribute exhibitThe Holmes Student Center opened their ‘Forward, Together: Remembering’ exhibit in the Gallery Lounge Monday.The exhibit includes items sent and donated to NIU after the Feb. 14, 2008, Cole Hall...

Kaitlyn King (left) and Joe Palmer, recipients of the 2014 Forward, Together Forward Scholarship, lay flowers by Gayle Dubowski’s memorial stone at a ceremony Saturday. The ceremony honored those lost when gunman Steven Kazmierczak killed five students before killing himself on Feb. 14, 2008, in Cole Hall. The scholarship is given to students who best embody the qualities of the shooting victims.

Community honors Feb. 14, 2008, victims with moment of silence

By Kelly Bauer | February 16, 2015

The families of the Feb. 14, 2008, shooting victims were accompanied by friends and community members at a quiet remembrance ceremony Saturday.At 3:06 p.m., they listened as NIU’s bell chimed five times. They looked at each name — Gayle Dubowski,...

Loved ones of the five victims of the Feb. 14, 2008, shootings put roses on the Cole Hall memorial during the wreath-laying ceremony in 2013.

Moment of silence to be held to honor Feb. 14, 2008, shooting victims

By Northern Star staff | January 28, 2015

A moment of silence will be held for the victims of the Feb. 14, 2008, shooting, on that date this year, according to an NIU Today news release.The tolling of five bells will occur at 3:06 p.m., according to the release, in remembrance of the five students...

Memorial stones stand in front of Cole Hall to honor the students who were killed Feb. 14, 2008.

Feb. 14 victims still remembered at Cole Hall

By Kelly Bauer | February 17, 2014

Gary Parmenter was surprised to see a bit of Tugs rope left in the Peaceful Reflection Garden in front of Cole Hall Friday.“Oh, how special,” Parmenter said of the rope, which laid at the base of the memorial stone for his son, Dan, who had battled...

We all feel loss of Feb. 14, 2008 shooting

By Danny Cozzi | February 16, 2014

Friday’s chilling winds accompanied memories of the Feb. 14, 2008, tragedy among the NIU community.At 3:06 p.m. the five bells remembering the five victims — Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace and Daniel Parmenter — rang...

Loved ones of the five victims of the Feb. 14, 2008, shootings put roses on the Cole Hall memorial during the wreath-laying ceremony in 2013.

Feb. 14 tragedy must be remembered by current students

By Northern Star Editorial Board | February 14, 2014

This is Part 5 in a five-part series. Read: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5Six years ago today, an on-campus shooting forever changed the NIU community.Five students were killed and 21 people were injured. Families, friends and the community...

Loved ones of the five victims of the Feb. 14, 2008, shootings put roses on the Cole Hall memorial during the wreath-laying ceremony in 2013.

Private reflection valuable on Feb. 14

By Northern Star Editorial Board | February 13, 2014

This is Part 4 in a five-part series. Read: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5You will hear five bell tolls at 3:06 p.m. Friday.It may seem out of place and it may catch your attention. Take the time to pause as the bells toll. It’s a moment...