EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan State Spartans and many other Michiganders continue to mourn the loss of Spartan lives last Feb. 13 after a shooter opened fire on campus. 

“Today, let’s lean on each other—it’s what we do best,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer shared,  “Spartans are strong because we always have each other’s backs. Let’s stand united as we remember those we lost, support those who bear scars both seen and unseen from that day, and continue to heal and process together.” 

MORE NEWS: Viral Post Claiming One Michigan Person Voted Dozens of Times Under Review

Three students were killed during the shooting: Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser, and Alexandria Verner. Five students were also seriously wounded in the shooting that took place in Berkey Hall and the MSU student union. 

Over the summer, the university pledged to set aside a portion of the $2 million in donations to the Spartan Strong Fund for the memorial effort. 

Since its initial fundraising, an additional $600,000 has been raised according to MSU spokesperson Mark Bullion, bringing the memorial fund to roughly $900,000 according to the Lansing State Journal. 

MSU builds on emergency system. 

Following the shooting, MSU has implemented a number of changes including new security cameras, classroom door locks, and a siren system. 

Marlon Lynch, Vice President and Chief Safety Officer for the school shared what the new systems could mean for the future. 

MORE NEWS: The System Works? Chinese Student’s Guilty Conscience Caught Cast Ballot, Not Voting Safeguards.

“We would probably have reduced the timeframe of how everything went because of the implementation of the security technology,” Lynch said to the Detroit News. “Everything that we’ve just talked about would be there to assist, and those are things that would have proven to work and be effective.” 

Student, classes, and guidance.

For most students, classes were canceled for Feb. 13, and no assignments or exams would take place on the day nor on Wednesday. 

Ahead of Monday, students received an email from the Office for Resource and Support Coordination, or ORSC, regarding events for Tuesday. 

“At the Office for Resource and Support Coordination, or ORSC, we validate and respect that everyone in our community will have various reactions to the anniversary, as each person remains on their own individual journey.” 

ORSC directed students’ to the Spartans Together website to find activities and counseling support offered throughout the day. 

The group also notified students that on Tuesday evening from 7:30 until 9:30 pm, there will be an evening remembrance gathering in Lot 62, located north of Spartan Stadium with a short program beginning at 8:10 pm. The event will also be live streamed here.