Director Sandi Carlisle shares her response to Northern Illinois University tragedy

Thank you for your response sharing your and the collective sentiments of the NIRSA association regarding the horrific tragedy that has occurred on Northern Illinois University's (NIU) campus on February 14.

I can't begin to express the gratitude for the number of e-mails and voice mails from NIRSA colleagues and the association. As you know, I consider NIRSA colleagues a part of my extended family, having known many of them for 20+ years.

Keep NIU and the Recreation Services staff in your prayers and thoughts as we continue to grieve and begin the healing process so critical to our future.

Know that members of the NIU community have come together in this time of tragedy. One of the themes that has surfaced during this process is an excerpt from the NIU fight song..."forward together forward."

If an institution wants to be represented on NIU's website, they should first post their letter to their own website and then e-mail the link to publicaffairs@niu.edu using the subject line: Condolence to post. We will then add them to the list using the link directly to that institution's website.

Thank you again,

Sandi Carlisle
Director of Recreation Services
Northern Illinois University
Student Recreation Center

NIRSA shares collective sorrow for the Northern Illinois University community

We know you share with us the sorrow of learning of the violence that occurred on the campus of honored NIRSA Member Institution Northern Illinois University on February 14.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of loved ones lost in this tragedy, and our thoughts are with them as they begin the process of healing. We stand with the entire Northern Illinois University community as they seek the return of a sense of safety and wholeness.

As NIRSA Members, connected by so many shared values and interpersonal relationships, today we honor the lives that were cut short by violence by redoubling our efforts to engage, to enquire, to encourage everyone around us in the tireless promotion of health and wellbeing.

Tom Kirch
NIRSA President

Kent J. Blumenthal, Ph.D., CAE, CRSS
NIRSA Executive Director