Since Feb. 13, the three Spartan victims who were taken from their families, our campus and our community have been heavy in our hearts. 

Though they are memorialized through many tearful vigils, supportive signs and tense protests, we recognize that none of this can bring them back. It doesn’t take the pain away from this act of violence. 

The State News offers our sincerest condolences and the most comfort that we can provide during this difficult time to those most affected, including the loved ones of Brian, Alexandria and Arielle.

Arielle Anderson

Anderson, a Grosse Pointe native and a MSU junior, was known for her aspirations to tend to the health and welfare of others as a surgeon. She was passionate about helping friends and family, particularly children.

In fact, Anderson once told her grandmother, April Davis, that when she became a doctor she would help take care of her aunt, who is disabled.

"She just has so much passion ... I just I'm still trying to grasp it," Davis told the Detroit Free Press last week.

Kind, caring and voted “Most likely to succeed” in eighth grade, Anderson is remembered fondly by her family and friends, who have wished to remain private as they grieved.

"Arielle loved and valued her family, she took pride in everything she did from school work or helping out with her family events," AnJesica Wilson, Anderson's aunt, said. "Arielle comes from a huge family and at the events she would go around the whole room and embrace everyone with a hug and her beautiful infectious smile."

Anderson was their “precious daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin, and friend,” her family said in an Instagram post.

She was also hardworking, her family said. She was planning on graduating early, and participated in summer programs working with senior citizens.

"Arielle Diamond Anderson was a rare pure diamond, the most caring and influential young woman I have ever came in contact with," Wilson said. "From the moment she was born to her first words all the way up to adulthood she was respectful and responsible. ... Arielle had a vibrant love peace and positive energy that anyone could pick up on being around her. Arielle is now my beautiful rare pure Diamond in the sky we are all blessed to have Arielle in our family. We love and miss her dramatically."

Brian Fraser

Fraser, also a Grosse Pointe native, was a sophomore studying business and the Chapter President of Phi Delta Theta. Clearly loved by his fraternity, Fraser was a leader on campus who embodied a “contagious smile” and was “charismatic and caring.”

More than 50 members of MSU’s chapter of Phi Delta Theta shared their tributes to Fraser. “True brotherhood,” “welcoming,” “respect” and “kindness” are only a few of the adjectives used to describe him.

“It’s been really hard, I can’t lie,” social work sophomore Macy Clymer, who is Fraser’s friend,  said. “It’s something I never thought I would experience which is jarring and I’m trying to get used to it, but we’re just trying to hang around everyone who knew him and keep talking about him.”

Clymer only knew Fraser for seven months from when he lived on the floor of the same hall Clymer’s best friend lived. They, along with Fraser, would hang out every day.

When thinking about the first time her and Fraser actually talked, Clymer remembers the kindness that his fraternity brothers knew.

“I was at a party ... it was on Halloween, and I had a really bad day — I was almost in tears,” Clymer said. “He, like pulled me away and just gave me the biggest hug. I’d barely talked to him before. … He looked me in the eyes and he says, ‘It’s going to be okay.’ You can’t be sad when you look at his smile. There’s something about his smile that just made me feel better instantly … that was my first real interaction with Brian and I knew I wanted him in my life forever.”

A memorial scholarship in Fraser’s name was created, and donations for it can be made online.

Alexandria Verner

Verner, a biology junior and Clawson native, was a league MVP basketball, volleyball and all-state softball player. Known as a leader both on and off the courts, Verner is loved by her parents, sister, brother and the entire Clawson Public Schools community. 

Verner’s basketball coach Kelly Horne met Verner when she was in kindergarten. She played in the “little kid’s basketball league” along with her siblings, a time that Horne recalls fondly.

When Horne took over Clawson’s high school varsity basketball team, Verner was a senior.

“She was our leader on and off the court,” Horne said. “My seniors right now played on JV while Al was a senior. They’re taking it pretty hard, and that just shows you what type of leader she was.”

Clawson superintendent Billy Shellenbarger recalls when he met Verner as co-varsity basketball coach. 

Known fondly by her nickname, Al, she “exemplified kindness every day of her life,” her former superintendent wrote. Those close to her remember her as sweet, caring, funny, smart and above all, genuine.

“In a small school of only 400, when you have someone who is such high character and a high integrity kiddo like Al is, from start to finish, you tend to migrate towards that student,” Shellenbarger said.

Shellenbarger knew all three of the Verner children, including Alexandria’s brother and sister, TJ and Charlie. As a family friend and Alexandria’s principal while she was in high school, he remembers cheering for Alexandria at her games, recommending her for heads of clubs and admiring her active role at Clawson High School.

“She was a constant leader, even as a sophomore,” Shellenbarger said. “Very quiet, very modest, very humble but her leadership was loud.”

Verner’s family has set up a memorial fund with Alliance Catholic Credit Union, where donations can be made.

The MSU community has come together to honor our departed Spartans in remembrance, anger, confusion and, most of all, grief. From alumni-supported events to somber candlelight vigils, their legacy continues to breathe air into our broken campus. 

They will never be forgotten.

The State News will always stand with the families and friends of Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner.

Managing Editor Drew Goretzka and reporters Vivian Barrett, Maddy Warren and Hannah Woehrle contributed to this article.

This story was updated Feb. 23 to include comments from the Anderson family.