GSU Responds to Mass shooting at Michigan State University
Dear GSU Community,
On February 13, another institution of higher education experienced an incomprehensible loss. Michigan State University became another statistic of senseless violence. Three lives were lost and many more were injured when a gunman opened fire on an unsuspecting campus.
The Governors State University (GSU) community stands with Michigan State University. We are students, faculty, staff, and administrators who are all working toward the same goals, and that makes this so much more incomprehensible.
One of our own faculty members, Rashidah Jaami’ Muhammad, Ph.D., a Michigan State University (MSU) alumni, took a moment to reflect:
As a Spartan (Michigan State University Alumni) my heart is broken. I grieve with the MSU community over the absolute senseless loss of student lives.
For years MSU was my home, earning my B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. there. I know the campus, the students, the faculty, the MSU family. I took classes and taught classes in the Berkey Building. I have fond memories of the MSU Union as the place to socialize, network, and grab a late-night burger or pizza. I often would meet other grad students there to discuss our classes and research.
The beautiful MSU campus with the Red Cedar River flowing through it, will always hold a special place in my heart. I met my husband, Elam, at MSU and my children were born in the hospital where the injured MSU students received emergency medical care.
All the years I was there, I knew MSU to be a safe campus. It is inconceivable to ever imagine such a horrible thing happening on a campus that has always been dedicated to enriching the lives of students, preparing the next generation of innovative educators, doctors, lawyers, and socially engaged citizens to serve the greater East Lansing community and the world.
Please join me in sending thoughts and prayers to the Michigan State University community.
Peace,
Rashidah Jaami` Muhammad, Ph.D. (Class of ’95)
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These tragedies—more than 70 U.S. mass shootings so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive—are grim reminders that there is still work to be done. These crises rarely exist outside the United States of America, a free nation where citizens have the right to vote for legislators who support the reduction of deaths by gun violence and control laws.
Unfortunately, we cannot anticipate why and how tragedies such as this occur, the world we live in demands that we remain prepared. To learn more about how the GSU Emergency Response Team works to maintain a safe campus, please read this article: https://gsunews.govst.edu/prevention-preparedness-key-in-keeping-gsus-campus-safe/.
We want to remind students to seek support through the Counseling and Wellness Center. Please contact the Center at 708-235-7334 for an appointment.
To our faculty and staff, please take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free counseling.
For immediate emergency related assistance, please call:
911
GSU public safety: 708.534.4900
24-hour crisis lines:
708.429.7255 or 815.744.5280
Cheryl F. Green, Ph.D.
President
Governors State University