III 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 458 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 25, 2008 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Obama, and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the condolences of the Senate to those affected by the devastating shooting incident of February 14, 2008, at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

Whereas, on Thursday, February 14, 2008, a gunman entered a lecture hall on the campus of Northern Illinois University and opened fire on the students assembled there; Whereas the gunman took the lives of 5 students and wounded 17 more; Whereas the 5 students who lost their lives that day were— (1)Gayle Dubowski, age 20, of Carol Stream, Illinois, a devout member of her church who sang in the church choir and worked as a camp counselor and volunteer in rural Kentucky; (2)Catalina Cati Garcia, age 20, of Cicero, Illinois, a first-generation American who had hoped to be a teacher, was her family’s princess and inspiration, and was rarely seen without a beaming smile; (3)Julianna Gehant, age 32, of Mendota, Illinois, who dreamed of becoming a teacher, and who had spent more than 12 years in the United States Army and Army Reserve serving our Nation and saving money for college; (4)Ryanne Mace, age 19, of Carpentersville, Illinois, a much-loved only child who was rarely without a warm smile and hoped to be a counselor so she could help others; and (5)Daniel Parmenter, age 20, of Westchester, Illinois, Danny to his friends, a 6-foot, 5-inch rugby player with a gentle spirit and a bright future, who died trying to protect his girlfriend from gunfire; Whereas the Northern Illinois University Police Department, the Police Departments of DeKalb, Sycamore, Aurora, Batavia, Cortland, Galesburg, Genoa, Geneva, Mendota, St. Charles, Rockford, and the Village of Winnebago, the Conservation Police, the Sheriff's Offices of DeKalb County, Winnebago County, and Kane County, the Kane County Bomb Squad, the Illinois State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Reach/Air Angel, Flight for Life, Life Line, the Salvation Army, and the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Departments of DeKalb, Sycamore, Cortland, Malta, Maple Park, Rochelle, Hampshire, Burlington, Shabbona, Hinckley, Genoa-Kingston, Waterman, Elburn, St. Charles, Ogle-Lee, Kaneville, Sugar Grove, North Aurora, and Somonauk responded to the emergency promptly and assisted capably in the initial crisis and the subsequent investigation; Whereas the emergency responders and the doctors, nurses, and other health care providers at Kishwaukee Community Hospital, Saint Anthony Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Rockford Memorial Hospital, and Northwestern Memorial Hospital provided professional and dedicated care to the victims; Whereas hundreds of volunteer counselors from Illinois and across the Nation have come to Northern Illinois University to assist the campus community; Whereas the students, faculty, staff, and administration of Northern Illinois University, the people of the city of DeKalb and the State of Illinois, and all Americans have mourned the victims of this tragedy and have offered support to the victims’ friends and families and to the greater Northern Illinois University community; Whereas Northern Illinois University has established a scholarship fund to honor the memory of the students slain in the February 14 tragedy; and Whereas the Northern Illinois University community is determined to move forward, together forward, in the words of the Huskie fight song, and to persevere through this tragedy with heavy hearts but unbroken spirits: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)expresses its sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were killed in the tragic shooting on February 14, 2008, at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois: Gayle Dubowski, Catalina Garcia, Julianna Gehant, Ryanne Mace, and Daniel Parmenter; (2)extends its support and prayers to those who were wounded and wishes them a speedy recovery; (3)commends the emergency responders, law enforcement officers, healthcare providers, and counselors who performed their duties with professionalism and dedication in response to the tragedy; (4)reaffirms its commitment to helping ensure that schools, colleges, and universities in the United States are safe and secure environments for learning; and (5)expresses its solidarity with Northern Illinois University and its students, faculty, staff, and administration as they mourn their losses and as they recover from this tragic incident.