Internet gives sense of community

Pardha Pyla knows firsthand the helplessness the students at Northern Illinois University are likely feeling.

The graduate student at Virginia Tech said he experienced the same thing last year, when a similar mass killing occurred on his campus.

"I was struck with a sadness that I never experienced before," he wrote in an e-mail. "During that time one of the things that helped me cope was the never ending support we got from all over the world."

In that vein, Pyla started a support group on Facebook.com called "Hokies for NIU Huskies."

More and more, Facebook users struck with tragedy turn to the networking site to memorialize their friends and talk to others in similar circumstances.

"It's not all that surprising," according to Ralph Erber, a social psychology professor at DePaul University. "In a crisis like this, we're naturally inclined to talk to others. Facebook allows us to get in touch with lots of other people in a relatively short time."

Erber said the support and solidarity that Northern Illinois students feel from those around the country will help comfort them in a confusing time.

Jim Combs, an Arlington Heights resident who is currently attending Harper Community College, said that camaraderie was why he started the group "Pray for Northern Illinois University Students and Families."

"The students have to know that others who don't attend their school still care about what happened," said Combs, who plans to attend Northern Illinois in the fall.

He said he also wanted to create a safe haven for people who wanted to find out if their friends and family were OK.

"Students tend to turn to Facebook more than first hear about something going on," he said.

Ryan Eugene, a senior at Northern Illinois from Gilberts, said that's exactly where he went when cell phones and land lines became jammed and stopped working in DeKalb Thursday.

He put up away messages on his AOL Instant Messenger and on Facebook to let people know he was fine.

He also posted on Combs' group to give a thanks to the outpouring of support.

"They definitely needed to be noticed for giving their support to our community," Eugene said. "Without them, a lot of students that went through everything they did would have a harder time to deal with all this."