A dorm room door with the residents' names on the front, illuminated by the green LED lights on the adjacent wall at Shaw Hall on move-in day at Michigan State University on Aug. 27, 2021.
Life as an MSU student living on campus this semester looks a little different with the switch to online learning.
Here is a guide for students living and working on campus during the first three remote weeks of the spring semester. Residential and Housing Services communications director Kat Cooper shares changes in transportation and dining halls as well as advice for campus life.
Transportation
The CATA Bus Service is experiencing extended service reductions.
Routes 30, 31, 33, 38 and 39 are not currently operating, route 32 will continue to operate every 30 minutes on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. and routes 34, 35 and 36 will operate every 30 minutes from Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Beginning on Jan. 17, routes 30, 31, 32, 33 and 38 will operate during the regular weekday service hours at a 30-minute frequency starting at 7 a.m. Route 39 will operate at a 40-minute frequency.
Routes 34, 35 and 36 will return to only operating on Saturdays and Sundays.
With the cold winter weather and CATA service reductions, Cooper encourages students to look out for their safety by dressing warmly in a coat, mittens, hat and gloves and wearing a mask or scarf to protect the face.
"Watch out for slippery areas," Cooper said. "(Infrastructure Planning and Facilities) does an amazing job at cleaning off the sidewalks and roadways but as the weather changes they can't always predict everything."
Dining
The Landon and Shaw dining halls reopened for full service from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shuttle service will still remain for West Circle residents to travel to alternate dining locations.
The Wells Hall Starbucks and The Workshop at STEM are temporarily closed during the first three weeks.
Diners at Brody, Landon, Akers, Case, Snyder/Phillips, Owen, Shaw and the Union Food Court will be allowed to take out two entrees, one side and one beverage during the first three weeks of the semester. Those wanting to take out their food need to check in with the entrance host to rescan their MSU ID.
"We are allowing students to utilize takeout if they don't want to sit in the dining halls and eat in that environment because we understand they may be being cautious," Cooper said.
Campus life
Cooper recommends students living on campus take time to leave their residence halls and get involved with campus. To keep active, she said students can renew their IM passports or attend cardio rooms and group exercise classes in residence halls.
"Study somewhere other than in your room to make sure that you're keeping active and protecting your mental health," Cooper said.
"Springticipation" will occur on Jan. 19 in the Duffy Daugherty Football Building from 6 to 8 p.m. Over 250 registered student organizations will be in attendance, Cooper said.
"If (students) can't get to that event, they can browse over at Involve at State and find student organizations that meet their social, their aspirational needs and hopefully make some friends, get out of their room," Cooper said.
For students struggling with mental health, Cooper said they can reach out to resources with the Counseling and Psychiatric Services on campus.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
She advises students to reach out to their RAs to learn about hall events and get involved with residence hall governments and caucuses.
"That's a great way to make connections and have something to do without going very far," Cooper said.
Editor's note: The article was edited at 10:49 a.m. to reflect updates in the CATA bus routes.
