Governor's idea just opportunism
I'm deeply troubled by Gov. Blagojevich's plan for a new facility at, or near, the site of the tragic NIU shootings.
The state of Illinois is currently in a budget crisis, as such, the $40 million proposed for this project could be best served elsewhere.
Unless Cole Hall is in a state of disrepair, I view this as the governor simply using the taxpayers' money to bolster his image and expand his young voting base.
Like all of us, I'm sure Gov. Blagojevich is saddened by what's happened, but this response reeks of opportunism.
A student was quoted as saying she "really doesn't understand how you'd expect students -- even five years from now -- to actually walk into (Cole Hall) and take a class."
At the risk of sounding callous, if she's still attending NIU five years from now, perhaps her parents need to reconsider the money they're investing in her education.
If you want to honor the victims of this tragedy, a monument or an alumni-sponsored scholarship in honor of them would be much more fiscally responsible.
That is how you honor these people whose lives were prematurely and senselessly taken, not by putting the state of Illinois deeper in debt.
Creighton Edward
Palatine