“(Back home) you have to drive everywhere, but being here I can go bike to whatever random event there is,” Pannell said. “There’s so much to do and they’re all accessible. You can just go and do them.”

For other freshmen, such as pre-nursing major Alexandra Burns, the sheer size of campus can make getting around bothersome, even with resources like the fleet of buses that circulate campus. Made to live in east neighborhood for their first year, freshmen interviewed often brought up having to travel long distances as a significant complaint. 

“I know the buses are a thing but the walking is pretty intense,” Burns said. “The first week I was here, I refused to use the buses so I walked everywhere.”

Pannell echoed this sentiment, saying the size of campus was “wearing down” on him.

Freshmen this semester were also able to witness firsthand the controversies and occasional dysfunction that has plagued MSU in recent years. Burns, referring to the firing of head football coach Mel Tucker and recent infighting within the Board of Trustees, said the negative news coverage of the university is a common point of discussion with her roommate. 

“I think it’s pretty embarrassing sometimes if I see MSU on the news,” Burns said. “Then I think about our credibility being looked at. It kind of sucks because I picked (to go) here for a good education but we’re always in the news.”

Kinesiology major Jayden LaPerna, however, said he’s usually too occupied with his own life to worry about administrative drama, instead choosing to focus on his own academic and professional goals.

“I never really care,” LaPerna said. “I got a lot of stuff going on in my life. I’d rather just focus on pursuing my goals and my career expectations instead of worrying about stuff that probably won’t really affect them.”

When asked what he would do differently if he could go back to the beginning of the semester, Pannell said he wishes he had been more social in the early days of the year and introduced himself to more people.

“Everyone was in their groups of twos and I was like ‘Oh, I don’t want to talk to them. I don’t want to bother them,’ which is something I wish I would not have done,” Pannell said. “I wish I could have just said ‘Hey, my name is Cole,” and actually introduce myself.”

In terms of academics, LaPerna said he wishes he hadn’t continued to use the same relaxed approach towards classes that he had used during high school.

“I coasted through high school, was able to get good grades, didn’t really have to study. That was not the case here,” LaPerna said. “So switching from high school to college, studying and grades was probably the hardest part for me.”

Reflecting on her first semester, Burns said her time at MSU, having grown up a fan of Michigan State’s sports teams, has largely met her expectations.

“I’m from the area so I kind of knew what I was getting into,” Burns said. “I didn’t expect (classes) to be that hard, but it’s not too bad. I actually like going here. I don’t consider transferring.”

Looking at the next three and a half years he'll spend at Michigan State, Pannell said he’s looking forward to being done with his general education classes and taking on more responsibilities.

“I’m looking forward to this next semester,” Pannell said. “I’m looking forward to actually having more classes and having more responsibility. I’m excited for that. And then to get out of east neighborhood hopefully, more close to everything.”