SPARTANS REMAIN STRONG IN LIGHT OF TRAGEDY

By Hannah Woerhle hwoerhle@statenews.com

On the night of Monday, Feb. 13, shots were reported in the MSU Union and Berkey Hall while police ordered students and East Lansing residents on and off-campus to shelter-in-place. The State News provided coverage of these events and the weeks following, giving students, staff and community members accurate updates and sharing the stories of this tragedy.

Remembering Those We Lost

Alexandria Verner, a Clawson native, was a junior studying biology. Known as a leader, Verner is loved by her parents, sister, brother and the entire Clawson Public Schools community. She is remembered for her athleticism, leadership and academic drive.

Verner received praise from Clawson Public Schools Superintendent Billy Shellenbarger. In an email written to the district, Shellenbarger wrote, “If you knew her, you loved her, and we will forever remember the lasting impact she has had on all of us.”

Arielle Anderson, a junior at MSU, was from Grosse Pointe. She was voted “most likely to succeed” in eighth grade and aspired to tend to the health and welfare of others as a surgeon, her family said in a statement.

“Arielle Diamond Anderson was a rare pure diamond, the most caring and influential young woman I have ever come in contact with,” AnJesica Wilson, Anderson’s aunt, said in a statement. “Arielle is now my beautiful rare pure Diamond in the sky, and we are all blessed to have Arielle in our family. We love and miss her dramatically.”

Brian Fraser, from Grosse Pointe, was a sophomore studying business. Fraser was the Chapter President of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at MSU. 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.

“Brian was our leader, and we loved him,” a Phi Delta Theta social media post read. “He cared deeply about his Phi Delta brothers, his family, Michigan State University and Phi Delta Theta.”

Those Who Were Injured

Five students were hospitalized as a result of the shooting. Those who have been identified are Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez, John Hao, Nate Statly and Troy Forbush. As of March 22, four students have been discharged, with one, who was recently transferred from Sparrow Hospital to a different facility, still in critical condition.

Many of the injured survivors have organized GoFundMe fundraisers to help cover costs, while MSU announced it would be covering their hospital bills.

Student Experiences

Sheltering-in-place was, for many students, a life-altering experience. Many were going about their daily lives when they received instruction to “Run. Hide. Fight.”

“We had just gotten our food and I remember all of our phones started blowing up and so we checked them,” elementary education freshman

Lauren Ford said. “The girl right next to me started sobbing and my jaw just dropped, and I remember my mind was racing and I couldn’t process — I didn’t think it was real at first.”

After hours of waiting for updates, listening to police radars and barricading doorways, many students left campus to go back to their hometowns. Some shared that it felt “eerie” or that they didn’t feel safe on campus anymore. Searching for a new scene of “normalcy” became the mission for many students and employees. While some did not want to return to campus or classes one week following the events, others said they needed to be back with their peers and not let the “strange environment,” on campus “linger.”

In the days and weeks following, many students participated in several rallies protesting gun violence and advocating for legislation that would regulate firearms. One of these occurred the afternoon of Feb. 20 outside of the Michigan Capitol Building.

Thousands of students gathered for the rally, called “Skip Class, Stand Up.” During the protest, attendees sat in a commonly taught formation used during lock-down drills in schools.

As they left the capitol that day, embracing one another in hugs of “I’ll see you soon,” they signified the spirit of the Spartans: standing with one another in a time of grief.

The Community Comes Together

The numerous ways that the Spartan community, and many others, came together happened in an instant. Immediately, local businesses, religious organizations, alumni and so many others found ways to support students and each other.

At sporting events such as the MSU-Michigan men’s basketball game just five days after the shooting, fans and coaches — regardless of their affiliation — wore “Spartan Strong” shirts and held a moment of silence for those lost.

On Feb. 19, thousands of volunteers lined the sidewalks of MSU’s campus to give out snacks, “free mom hugs” and plenty of opportunities to pet dogs in an effort to welcome students back to campus and let them know that they are loved.