To the students who do not care to follow social distancing guidelines and do not see the consequences because most students have not become seriously ill from COVID-19: The East Lansing Public School District is utilizing MSU testing results to make a determination of whether and when to open in-person instruction.

Your actions directly impact the thousands of young people living in your community, as well as the parents who are trying to work (in some cases, to teach you) while managing virtual school.

For a moment, please think about, specifically, the special needs students who are struggling mightily to learn in a virtual environment or the families that do not have flexible or remote careers and are leaving children unattended in dangerous situations.

There are children who rely on school breakfasts and lunches and social work support that cannot be provided when school is remote. We are all living together in a pandemic, and everyone is making sacrifices, except, apparently, you.

You feel that you have a right to irresponsibly gather in large groups and spread the virus because you think it won't change your day-to-day life at all.

It's appalling.

What you do today impacts vulnerable children that live down the street from you. What you are doing today directly impacts the ability of community parents to earn a living to feed their children.

It's not that hard — take it easy on the partying this semester, bring our numbers down and be good humans.

Show some respect for others. The parents and children of East Lansing are begging.