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.
Following the shooting that took place in the Union on Feb. 13, the Union has been closed indefinitely, displacing the many students workers who worked at Spartan Spirit Shop, the Sparty's Cafe and the Roost, the Union's cafeteria.
Students and representatives were given the chance to speak on public safety, academic support, mental health and counseling in an open forum about any and all feelings they might have.
Nate Statly’s family started a GoFundMe to support his path towards recovery following a shooting that took place on Michigan State University’s campus on Monday, Feb. 13. Statly has been in critical condition since the shooting according to the GoFundMe written by his older brother, Josh Statly.“He’s the light in our family and never stops making us laugh, and he is loved by so many,” the GoFundMe bio says.
MSU students gathered at The Rock Tuesday evening to mourn classmates killed in a mass shooting last week and support each other as the university resumes classes and activities.
The university is currently reaching out to unverified merchandisers, and while some are malicious scams, MSU has also encountered well-intentioned sellers who can go through the licensing process to confirm their contributions to the fund.
As students return to classes, MSU Libraries hopes to create a supportive, welcoming environment with therapy dogs and arts and crafts.
As students return to class, members of the Union of Non-Tenured Faculty said received concrete guidance from the administration on how to teach after the shooting, but nothing is mandatory. This leaves faculty to decide what they should be doing for each individual class.
“It's nice to see a community come together after something so tragic,” Bonczynski said. “To know that there is this presence here — good times, bad times, anytime — it's encouraging and it does provide a lot of hope that we can heal in the future.”
MSU alumna Carol Love created a letter-writing initiative where alumni are sending love letters to their old East Lansing addresses.
“This is not something that (we) should be dealing with, nobody is sure how to approach it, and I think the best way is to be in conversation with students and understand what they need,” Spanish assistant professor Alejandra Márquez said.
Professors will be granted the flexibility to make syllabus accommodations, including deadlines, midterm exams and learning outcomes. Students who don't feel comfortable returning to classes in-person should reach out to their instructors because accommodations may be made on a case-by-case basis, Jeitschko said.
Michigan State University will be covering hospital bills for the five students injured in Sparrow Hospital, Deputy Spokesperson Dan Olsen confirmed.
International student John Hao is one of the students who was critically injured during the Feb. 13 mass shooting. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been set up, which says that Hao has been paralyzed from the waist down.
For most people the shelter-in-place lockdown ended around 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 13, but the feelings are still with them.
Deputy spokesperson Dan Olsen said the signs are meant for students who are not comfortable sharing their experiences and stories from Monday’s mass shooting with members of the media.
“I’ll try to arrange (the flowers) in a way that's beautiful,” collections assistant Matt Chansler said. “Because once they're dry, they hold their shape like that forever … so that people will forever know what happened.”
An MSU parent's association is planning to hold a support booth for students on Monday featuring snacks, drinks and merchandise donated from across the state. "We're rooting for them as they bravely come back on campus," MSU parent Heather Sertic said.
Spartans Against Gun Violence to host a candelight student vigil on Feb. 21.
