Elissa Slotkin Instagram – As we mark the first anniversary of the shooting at Michigan State University, it was good to spend some time on campus today, checking in with students, faculty and staff, and talking about what the past year has been like for all of us. That includes my own fantastic district office interns, all of whom are MSU students, who joined me throughout the day.
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There really isn’t a playbook for how to mark this kind of anniversary, so it was heartening to see so many people turn their emotions into action through the day of service activities offered at the Hannah Community Center and International Center. There were service projects to work on, art options, and even a squishmallow exchange to provide some extra comfort. These activities really showcased what it means to be Spartan Strong.
One place that’s burned into my brain from that evening is sitting in the ops center at the East Lansing Police Department as the hours-long manhunt took place. It seemed fitting to go back and visit with them and city fire and other first responder leaders on duty that night, and thank them for their actions that evening, and in the grueling year since. We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that there was only one group of leaders who were running toward the gunfire, not away from it. And that they, too, have had to process this tragedy.
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I’m now back in Washington, even if my heart is still with East Lansing. It’s hard to explain how much a tragedy like this impacts all of us. The common theme I heard from students and staff today was the way a mass shooting forever changes the very DNA of a community. We are still climbing our way back. #SpartanStrong. | Posted on 14/Feb/2024 05:29:57
