Events, classes canceled at NIU

Northern Illinois University leaders Thursday outlined plans for getting through the difficult days ahead.

The university's DeKalb campus as well as satellite facilities in Naperville and Hoffman Estates will remain closed today and until further notice, President John Peters said.

All athletic activities are canceled through Sunday in addition to a Monday open house.

And officials urged students and staff to take advantage of grief counseling that will be offered at five different locations throughout the campus. Help is also being offered to parents and family members. More information is at www.niu.edu.

A Mass will be held at 12:05 p.m. today at Newman Catholic Student Center, 512 Normal Road in DeKalb, and an ecumenical prayer service will occur at 7:30 p.m. at the center.

Meanwhile, other colleges and universities took stock in the wake of the tragedy.

"When you hear of incidents like this, your thoughts and prayers immediately go out to everyone that may have been involved," said Kim McCullough, public relations director at North Central College in Naperville.

Naperville police offered to step up campus patrols and residence hall directors are available to answer student questions, she added.

At Wheaton College, officials planned to pray for NIU during chapel services Thursday evening.

"This will definitely be on the forefront of our public safety officers as they make their rounds," college spokeswoman Sarah Clark said.

Aurora University administrators also said police planned an increased presence in the wake of the shootings.

A number of area institutions said they'd ramped up security procedures in recent years.

Judson University in Elgin recently started organizing a "Code Red" phone system to alert the Judson community if an emergency occurs, communications and marketing director Mary Dulabaum said.

Judson already has a system in place to provide e-mail and Web site warnings when necessary.

Elmhurst College plans to unveil a new emergency alert system within a few weeks in a measure under way before the NIU shootings, a spokesman said.

Benedictine University in Lisle is expecting to test a new public address system to alert students and faculty of emergencies next week.

And at Harper College, officials said they conduct exercises with Palatine police to prepare for crises.

"The training is ongoing," spokesman Phil Burdick said.

University of Illinois police have developed a rapid response plan in the event people's lives are at stake, acting Assistant Chief of Police Skip Frost said.

Campus police also monitor troubled students that could pose a threat to others, he said.

"Our hearts go out to our brothers and sisters at NIU," Frost said.