EAST LANSING, Mich. – The emotions come flooding back one year later. Tuesday, Feb. 13, marks 365 days since a gunman opened fire on campus at Michigan State University.
Related: MSU makes progress in safety after shooting, but more needs to be done
The Spartan community came together to honor the victims. It was a time of reflection for many, and as they looked back, emotions from that night returned.
MSU student David Delgado knew one of the victims, Brian Fraser.
“Today is hard, but I think today we just have to keep their names in remembrance,” Delgado said. “Even though this was a year ago today, this is something we will never forget; we will always be affected by it.”
From the rock with ‘Spartans Together’ painted on it to Berkey Hall where two students were killed, students gathered to shed tears and embrace each other as they remember the lives of Brian Fraser, Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner.
“Today’s been really hard. There’s no sugarcoating that at all,” said Emily Hoyumpa. “A lot of different emotions. I had a hard time falling asleep last night, knowing today was today, just completely dreading it.”
Hoyumpa, from Metro Detroit, is the MSU Student Body President and helped plan activities for students this week.
“Wherever you’re at in your healing journey, and whatever you’re feeling, deserves to be validated,” Hoyumpa said.
Staff members from the United Resilience Center spread across campus for students in need of support.
“We have several volunteers from Common Ground’s main staff down in Pontiac who have made the trip up to be available for folks that may want to talk,” said Jeff Kapuscinski, with Common Ground. “Today can be a trigger day for a lot of people as they remember the events from one year ago.”
Like many other students, Hoyumpa is doing her best to move forward after the tragedy on campus a year ago.
“I was telling someone earlier I was like, I’m putting on my president hat right when I’m in these roles. I’m talking to various people, but also, I’m a student, I’m a human being trying to heal from last year,” Hoyumpa said.
Throughout the day, students have been gathering at Berkey Hall where two students were killed and the rock with “Spartans Strong” painted on. Hoyumpa said a permanent memorial to remember the three students is in the works.
“It’s really important to recognize just everything that this community lost and find a place once that memorial is done,” Hoyumpa said. “Spartans are going to come together in remembrance of what we lost and how we can come together for these really difficult times.”