What sort of lamebrained knee-jerk reaction is this? Last I read, Northern Illinois University was full to bursting with students as a result of the continued urban sprawl - and they want to tear down a fully-functional building used for teaching? Then replace it? Yes, I understand that right now there are high emotions revolving around the tragic murders committed within its halls - but couldn't the people be better served (meaning ALL the people) by turning it into some form of tribute to those slain?

And the BIG thing that I want to know - where will the money come from? Will it come from the King Rod's constitution-busting health care plan? Will it be dredged from the CTA's emergency funding? Will future students at NIU see massive tuition increases to cover the projected $44 million price tag?

Or maybe King Rod Blagojevich will curtail his illegal use of state aircraft for his personal commuting. That will cover about 25% of it over the remainder of his current term in office.

Or maybe stop King Rod's massive campaign to translate every state document into Spanish - that had a price tag over $10 million last year. That pays off this building pretty quickly!

Governor Blagojevich joins NIU officials to announce plans for memorial and new classroom building to replace Cole Hall, site of Feb. 14 shootings - Governor and local legislators to push for $40 million in emergency state assistance to help NIU rebuild a - DEKALB – To honor the victims and help the student body move forward, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich joined NIU President John G. Peters, legislators and students today at Northern Illinois University (NIU) to announce new plans for Cole Hall, the scene of the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of five students and injured 17 more. Gov. Blagojevich said that he will introduce emergency funding legislation and work with state Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski (R-Sycamore) and state Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Sycamore) to provide the University with $40 million for the project. Cole Hall will be demolished and replaced with a state-of-the-art classroom building to be named “Memorial Hall”. [From King Rod's Throne Room]