NIU officials drop idea of demolishing shooting site

DEKALB -- The president of Northern Illinois University has dropped the idea of tearing down the building where five students were killed in February.

President John Peters originally wanted to demolish Cole Hall and replace it with a new building and a memorial.

But he says a survey of the university community shows overwhelming support for keeping the building.

In a message posted on the university Web site, Peters says officials now want input on three options for renovating the building to honor the slain students.

The building has remained empty since Valentine's Day, when a gunman burst into the lecture hall and killed five students before turning the gun on himself.