Hundreds of students have signed a pledge to celebrate responsibly this weekend when MSU meets its cross-state rival at Spartan Stadium.
Green cards emblazoned with the words, "I pledge to celebrate responsibly and show my Spartan spirit through positive actions!" were stapled together to spell "MSU" on a bulletin board in the Holmes Hall cafeteria this week.
Students signed the pledges, which were distributed Monday, as one of the many ways the MSU community is preparing for a safe weekend.
Perhaps the most important football game of the season - the MSU and U-M matchup - comes one day after Halloween. City and campus officials are trying to send a positive message in hopes of deterring unruly celebrations this weekend.
"I'm a huge advocate of anti-riot events," said Matt Heintz, a resident mentor at West Holmes Hall who helped orchestrate the pledge.
"I just want to bring a good name back to MSU."
Head men's basketball coach Tom Izzo, athletic director Ron Mason and head football coach John L. Smith were all photographed signing the pledge.
In a component of the pledge program, MSU leaders such as Izzo, head ice hockey coach Rick Comley and women's basketball head coach Joanne P. McCallie are speaking with students in the Holmes Hall cafeteria this week.
Pride is built by being responsible at a time such as this, said Ed Tillett, assistant director of Holmes Hall.
"When students sign the pledge, it makes them aware of what can go wrong and what their responsibilities are," Tillett said.
Despite the efforts to quell disruptive behavior, hospitality business sophomore Amy Jasper says problems might be inevitable.
"I don't think it's going to work," said Jasper, who signed the pledge. "People are going to be crazy with this rivalry no matter what."
To help prevent trouble on MSU's campus during the busy Halloween and rivalry weekend, officials are planning to lock down some university buildings and dormitories for the weekend, beginning at 8 p.m. Friday.
In West Circle Complex, students will need to enter through the front doors of buildings and show identification to night receptionists.
Students in South Complex won't see a change in procedure from other home football games this season, complex Director Marcia Evans said. Halls are locked down during all home football games.
"We are just doing our same lock-down we do for football Saturdays and putting on extra people," Evans said.
Procedures have not been finalized for all campus buildings.
Representatives from ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, began sending mass e-mails to their constituents Wednesday, reminding them about the consequences of unruly behavior.
One message, titled "Be Careful," was sent to all James Madison College students from Academic Assembly Representative Jessica Hancock.
"This is a reminder to be wise and cautious with the decisions you make regarding alcohol and personal activity," she wrote. "You do not want to have legal problems or not be able to return to school for something you decide to do."
After MSU's run in the NCAA men's basketball tournament in March, thousands took to the streets, causing $40,000 in damage to the campus and city.
More than 30 people were arrested during the March 28-30 disturbances. Most were sentenced to jail time, banned from state-funded university campuses and forced to pay restitution.
Positive messages about celebrating aren't stopping at the city-campus line.
East Lansing's Community Relations Coalition is encouraging city residents to turn on their front porch lights Friday and Saturday to show "support and pride for Michigan State University and its outstanding Spartans."
The coalition is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the relationship between the student and permanent residents.
"We wanted to have an easy way for people to show support and be a part of the huge excitement," said Nancy Schertzing, the coalition's executive director.
While community leaders are working to promote safe celebrating, police say they are hoping for the best and planning for the worst.
East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler said her department has learned many lessons about dealing with large crowds and big games in recent years.
"We have a lot of information available to handle a situation, should it turn violent, and get to the point where it is out of control," Liebler said.
But Liebler said, "We are all holding our breath" and hoping fans can celebrate peacefully.
Sarah McEvilly contributed to this report.
Steve Eder can be reached at ederstev@msu.edu.
Don Jordan can be reached at jordand3@msu.edu.
