MSU students are packing up, leaving an “eerie” MSU campus following the mass shooting that took place on Feb. 13. 

Communications sophomore Awtry Massa was studying in the MSU Union when shots were fired initially. 

“I would feel a sense of normalcy if I went home,” Awtry Massa said. 

Massa’s belongings remain in MSU Union and she will retrieve them on Thursday. Her mother, Kirsten Massa, said she is relieved to see Awtry in person. 

“I was petrified and I basically just sat on the phone with her,” Kirsten Massa said. “I couldn't sit around waiting. She didn't want to come home because she didn't have her stuff, I had to just come up.”

Music education sophomore David Ott is heading home for the week as well. 

“There’s just not much to say,” Ott said. “Police did their jobs, there’s a lot going on.”

Ott lives in Campbell Hall and was in the Billman Music Pavilion when the shooting began. He got back to his dormitory safely at around 12:30 a.m. 

Ott’s mother, Heidi Schlosser, said she’s “better now that I have my eyes on him.”

Sisters psychology senior Celia Lanser and business-preference sophomore Trina Lanser will leave campus for Holland, Michigan later tonight. 

“My main dining hall is closed and stuff, so it’s like I might as well just go back home,” Trina Lanser, who lives in Yakeley Hall, said. 

Celia said all of her friends are going home too. 

“It’s sort of eerie to be here anyways, so we wanted to go home,” Celia Lanser said.

Animal science senior Emily Beson said she’s unsure if she’s leaving campus at this point. Beson is a Resident Assistant and had to transport her residents in Williams Hall to safety. 

“We had to get all of our residents to like go in their rooms and stuff, and it was so scary,” Beson said.  “And especially because it happened at a building we literally go to every single day.”

Business sophomore Madison Krull said she is being driven to her residence in White Pigeon, Michigan, because she doesn’t feel safe on campus. 

“I’m just leaving because I just don't feel safe right now,” Krull said. “Especially with the Union right there.”

Krull lives in Yakeley Hall and was there when the mass shooting begun, remaining there until the morning.

“I’m just trying to get home, so that (the university) can do what they need to do and we can come back,” Krull said. 

Environmental studies and sustainability freshman Holly Bengtson is going home as well. 

“I’m still shaken up about it,” Bengtson said. “It just feels surreal.”

Bengtson and her boyfriend, business-preference freshman Matthew Welmerink, were in Mayo Hall dormitories and said they felt safe the entire time. 

Environmental studies and sustainability freshman Cooper Randall said he is planning to spend the weekend at home. 

“I think a lot of people are leaving campus because they don’t feel comfortable here at the University,” Randall said.

His mother Elizabeth Van Der Meulen expressed her sadness for the students. 

“(I’m) scared for them and worried about what the future holds for them in terms of post traumatic stress,” Van Der Meulen said.

MSU has canceled all classroom activity for the remainder of the week and are updating students with new information as it arrives.