Of the five students originally in critical condition in Sparrow Hospital after the shooting on Michigan State University's campus on Monday, Feb. 13 three students' conditions have improved and two remain in critical condition.
“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.
It was a somber Saturday evening in Chicago, Ill., nearly one week after the mass shooting on Michigan State University's campus on Monday, Feb. 13. MSU alumni north of Michigan gathered for a candlelight vigil in memory of Brian Fraser, Alexandria Verner, Arielle Anderson, the five students injured and those who survived.
Michigan State University will be covering hospital bills for the five students injured in Sparrow Hospital, Deputy Spokesperson Dan Olsen confirmed.
On Saturday, less than five miles away from Michigan State University's campus where a mass shooting took place five days earlier, delegates from counties throughout Michigan gathered to decide who would lead the state Republican Party as chair and co-chair.
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.
“We can make meaningful action and it takes public pressure to get people to do things they don't want to do,” Rep. Julie Brixie said in her speech. “But you are worth it. You and every other child is worth it and we should not allow our children to endure acts of violence in sacred places of learning. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.”
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.
As Spartans have had time to reflect after Monday's shooting on campus, many are organizing their own protests and vigils to express grief, anger or demands for change.
Spartans Against Gun Violence to host a candelight student vigil on Feb. 21.
As the Michigan State community grieves, some are finding safety in a local flower shop.
“Right now, my legs are wobbly … because it feels empty and even though I (was) not here during the shooting itself, it feels wrong,” Sparty's Refresh worker Nurha Lim said. “No one's here to tell you that it's going to be fine because it's not going to be fine.”
When asked about the petition at a media conference Thursday morning, MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said, “we’re considering all options for the manner in which we continue education and research.”
