NIU geology class involved in shooting reconvenes

The students enrolled in Geology 104 at Northern Illinois University had their first class Tuesday since the Feb. 14 shooting that killed five classmates and wounded several others.

The class, which meets Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, has been moved from Cole Hall, the site of the shooting, to an undisclosed building on campus.

Counselors were in the class Tuesday to support students and refer them to campus resources.

More than 500 volunteer counselors from across the country were in each class on Monday and Tuesday, the first two days of class since the Feb. 14 shooting.

"These classes are not turning into group therapy," said Micky Sharma, NIU's director of counseling. "This is psychological first-aid."

Out of respect for the students in the class, NIU officials did not comment on what took place in the Geology 104 class Tuesday.

"Everything seemed to be fine," NIU spokesman Joe King said.

The class is taught by two student teachers, one of whom, Joe Peterson, was injured in the attack. Peterson was released from the hospital within a day after he was shot in the arm.

Both instructors are physically able to teach the class, but King said it is not yet clear if both will finish the semester.

It is also not yet known how many of the students enrolled in the class will drop the course, King said.

NIU officials asked all media to keep their distance from the Geology 104 class Tuesday, and King said all media honored the request.