EAST LANSING, Mich. (MIRS News) – During a Thursday morning briefing with police, newly elected Michigan State University Board Chair Rema Vassar shared her dual experience as both a trustee and mother of a Spartan.
Vassar said she and her daughter have joked since that when her daughter called on Monday night, it was the fastest she’d ever picked up the phone.
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“Generally, she calls for money,” she explained to chuckles from the media present, “so she might not get me on the first ring.”
On a more serious note, Vassar said when reports came in on Monday evening of an active shooter on Michigan State University’s campus, her daughter was forced to shelter-in-place in a bathroom for three hours.
During that time, Vassar was juggling updates from campus, fielding her daughter’s calls and trying to respond to concerned family members to tell them they were both safe.
Two days later, Wednesday night’s vigil was the first time her daughter returned to campus, after Vassar said she convinced her to attend.
The moment she stepped up onto the stairs to speak, Vassar said her daughter began texting her.
“Mom, I don’t feel safe. I want you to get down,” she said.
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Vassar told her daughter to get to MSU Police Chief Marlon Lynch, who she also commended for his coordination of services during the shooting and subsequent events.
“You know him. Stand next to him. You’ll be safe,” was her response.
Vassar said some took exception to that text, but “I don’t know what you would have done if that were your daughter.”
“I want us to give the grace that’s necessary,” she said. “We all are going to be healing in different ways, at different paces.”
She said she’s always been a mother who preaches “toughen up” to her children.
“You scraped your knee,” she gave as an example. “You want peroxide or alcohol. I’m one of those moms.”
But she said she’s giving her daughter a lot of grace in these moments, something she wants extended across campus.
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