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NIU Counselor, one year later

By Susan Stephens

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wnij/local-wnij-820369.mp3

DeKalb, IL – This Saturday marks one year since the shootings at Northern Illinois University. Nancy Apperson is the Employee Wellness Coordinator at NIU. Her job is to counsel faculty and saff on their personal problems. But on the afternoon of February 14th, 2008, she found herself tending traumatized students - students who had been in Cole Hall when Steven Kazmierczak opened fire, killing five students and wounding eighteen before turning the gun on himself. Since then, Apperson has been deeply involved in the efforts to help heal the community. WNIJ's Guy Stephens spoke with Apperson not long after the tragedy. Recently, he visited with her again. Apperson says NIU's press to provide counseling to as many people as possible after the shootings was a good thing...but it DID take its toll.