Friday, March 29, 2024

After 1 week of online classes, East Lansing bars are busy as ever

January 17, 2022
<p>A group of friends poses while waiting in line for Dublin Square on Jan. 14, 2022. This Irish Pub is a very popular spot for Michigan State students. </p>

A group of friends poses while waiting in line for Dublin Square on Jan. 14, 2022. This Irish Pub is a very popular spot for Michigan State students.

As MSU enters another semester online, students endured sub-freezing temperatures, impossibly long lines and the ever-present threat of COVID-19 to celebrate their first week back in classes at the bars. 

Despite online classes, many students are back in East Lansing to start the spring semester. On Friday night, Grand River Avenue was alive with its signature loud, rowdy energy. Students huddled in blankets in lines that stretched all the way down the street. 

Zoology senior Brendan Burchi stood in line at Rick’s for the first time. While Burchi said he feels comfortable going to the bars, he voiced confusion over the fact that most facilities on campus are open while classes remain online. 

“I don’t understand why some things are in person while others are not,” Burchi said.

Burchi said if MSU students are going to be on campus, they’ll also be attending parties and going to the bars, and if this was the case, students might as well attend classes in person anyway.

“Why is it different from last semester?” Burchi said, pointing out that the Delta variant was still running rampant in Michigan last semester. 

Chemistry senior Jordyn Bryce was outside of Dublin, her go-to spot.

“I personally got COVID like two weeks ago, so I feel pretty good about (being out)," Bryce said.

Social relations and policy junior Katie Perry and international relations sophomore Alaina Baldwin said they felt confident in going to the bars this weekend.

“I feel like since we’re vaccinated, we don’t worry about it too much,” Perry said.

Baldwin agreed.

“It’s a way to get out and meet people and have fun, especially while we’re not in classes,” Baldwin said.

Considering MSU’s booster shot requirement, students said they felt like going to the bars with others vaccinated and boosted students is a risk they feel comfortable taking. 

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