Northern Illinois students returned to class Monday in an attempt to return to normalcy.
Ten days have passed since the Northern Illinois University shooting.
Nearly one year has passed since the Virginia Tech shooting.
Two events that have altered collegiate life as we know it.
Or so it would seem.
The reality, however, is slightly different in Muncie.
Thirty Ball State University students attended a vigil after the Northern Illinois shooting.
Two hundred Ball State University students attended a vigil after the Virginia Tech shooting.
In looking at possible reasons for the variation in outward support, we wondered why there was such a large difference in the number of people who attended vigils.
More students at Virginia Tech were killed.
But Northern Illinois is less than five hours away from campus.
We're sure there are important things that kept you from attending the vigil for Northern Illinois and also realize that many people show their support in other ways. However, we just want to make sure you remember these events.
The Northern Illinois basketball teams will play here next week; we should not let this go unnoticed. Men's basketball plays Tuesday and women's basketball plays Wednesday.
Just because this horrific event did not happen to us or to anyone we know does not mean we shouldn't acknowledge the influence it has had on the respective campuses, students and athletes.
We can only hope we will never know what it's like to feel pangs of loss every time you pass a certain building on campus, or to feel a twinge of fear when sitting in a classroom.
Events such as NIU and VT remind us of our mortality in the most gruesome way possible.
As you trudge your way through the remaining snow and ice, realize you're not that far removed from tragedies on other campuses. It wasn't so long ago that a slew of student deaths were associated with Ball State.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
