Students show support for NIU
Staff/SPPSThe group, consisting of students representing fraternity and sorority life at Virginia Tech, was headed to the Mid-American Greek Council Association conference in Chicago.
In the wake of recent events that have taken place at the NIU campus, the students decided that it was important to show support from the Tech community.
"Once we heard about the shootings, we felt that it was important to go up there and offer support in anyway possible," said Ryan Heider, president of the Inter-Fraternity Council and senior mechanical engineering major.
"Since many of us went through the shooting together last year, we wanted to emulate some of the things others did for us that helped us out. One of the most important things we wanted to do was just let them know that we're there for them, anything they need," Heider said.
Daniel Parmenter, a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, and four female students at Northern Illinois University were killed on the NIU campus when a gunman opened fire on a lecture hall in a shooting, wounding 16 others.
Two of the wounded, members of Sigma Kappa sorority, were hospitalized.
Representatives from the Tech Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhellenic Council met with members of the NIU councils Thursday for an informal meeting during which they shared their experiences not only about the shootings, but also about fraternity and sorority life in general.
"Some members of the other fraternities and sororities might not have been as directly affected, but as all of us at Virginia Tech know, we're all affected one way or another," Heider said.
Brian Golden, director of public relations for IFC and a sophomore communication major, also made the trip.
"I think that they were really eager for our advice. I just told them to be with friends and be with each other," Golden said. "I told them to be with their Huskies."
Angie Puryear, president of the Tech Panhellenic Council and senior management and marketing major found that the NIU students were welcoming to the Hokie visitors.
"They were really open to us and appreciative of us coming," Puryear said.
"We got to give them our perspective about what we did when it happened to us and it was nice just to talk to them and let them know that we're here for them," Puryear said.
Signature boards signed by Tech students are scheduled to arrive this week to the Inter-fraternity Council at NIU and special gifts were given to members of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and Sigma Kappa sorority to show support for their Greek brothers and sisters.
Some of the gifts included candles in memory of each of the victims and a Hokie stone painted in red and black, NIU's school colors, placed at the memorial.
"We thought that Hokie stone embodies the strength that helped our community to get through such a hard time, so hopefully it will help them too," Heider said.
Edward Spencer, associate vice president for Student Affairs, is proud to know that members of the Tech community are reaching out to others in their time of need.
"These students exemplify what we have come to see and value in our student body -- a true caring about others and a willingness to let that caring spirit shine through," Spencer said. "I think the term 'Hokies United' really describes this. These students have certainly shown what 'Ut Prosim … that I may serve' is all about."
