DotComp: 'They will be Spartans forever'

East Lansing, Mich. – In what had to be the most solemn, sad and powerful gathering in the history of Michigan State University, the university president, and the governor, and the chair of the Board of Trustees all spoke before Tom Izzo was given the microphone.

Izzo’s seven-minute speech had been viewed, shared on social media and hailed throughout Spartan Nation tens of thousands of times by nightfall. In 40 years of work on campus, he’s become the face and voice of the university, probably reluctantly. He is the one many of us waited to hear speak in the wake of Monday’s tragedy. And he came through with an address of warmth, togetherness and hope for thousands and thousands of students who attended the vigil at The Rock and in front of the Michigan State Auditorium. 

But the words of the two young students who spoke after Izzo at Wednesday night’s vigil honoring the victims of Monday’s campus shootings should be sought as the touchstone moment of day two of our university community’s painful healing process. 

Jo Kovach, President of the Associated Students of Michigan State (ASMSU) and Hannah Jeffery, President of the Council of Graduate Students, were poignant, wise and  beautifully authentic in addressing their fellow students. They each apologized in advance for the tears they would shed while speaking. But we’ve never seen Spartans so strong. 

“To my fellow students, my wonderful amazing Spartans, it is okay to not be okay right now,” said Kovach, a James Madison major from Lincoln Park. “This is our home and we went through the unimaginable. We lost three beautiful souls who we attended classes with, are friends with, are in clubs with. Their absence on this campus and in this world will forever be felt.”

She spoke about the three Michigan State students who lost their lives during the shootings on Monday: Arielle Anderson, a junior from Grosse Pointe; Alexandria Verner, a junior from Clawson; and Brian Fraser, a sophomore from Grosse Pointe.

“Arielle wanted to become a doctor, to help others her entire life,” Kovach said. “Her family and friends say she had an infectious smile. She was a hard worker with plans to graduate early and she was a beautiful soul who lit up every room she entered.

“Alexandria was studying biology. Her friends and family say she was one of the kindest people you could ever meet. She was a leader in her community and a talented athlete throughout high school. Alexandria was tremendously loved by everyone who knew her and she made a mark in every space she entered.

“Brian was the president of Phi Delta Theta. I’m sure many of his brothers are here tonight to honor him because of what a fantastic leader, friend and brother he was to the brotherhood. Brian’s high school swimming and diving coach says that he had a sense of humor that could light up the pool deck and bring laughter to the entire team. 

“These beautiful, amazing Spartans were taken from this world senselessly but they will never be forgotten by each and every one of us here tonight. They have touched the lives of thousands of Spartans and this campus for hundreds of years to come. And for the five Spartans at Sparrow Hospital right now, we are sending you all of our love and support and we hope for quick healing and resiliency for each one of you.”

Kovach then turned to the students at the vigil with words of support.

“It is okay to grieve and mourn however you feel comfortable doing so,” Kovach told them. “There is no rule book telling you what to do in these situations. We just have to live each day from here on out, reaching out for help when we need it and getting through the harder days together.

“I know there is a lot of media here right now and it’s easy to feel like your grief is a sideshow attraction for the nation. You do not owe anybody anything, especially not the media, not the people asking for your story. You only owe yourself the time to process and to grieve.

“There will never be a return to normal. This event has changed what that will feel like for us forever, but that’s okay. If there is one thing I know and love about Spartans, it is that in times of need, we come together. Here you are all right now, coming together. And that’s what we will do for the foreseeable future.

“Check in on your fellow Spartans. Be there for one another and be there for yourselves. I love each and every one of you more than I can ever describe and although things feel really scary right now and I am angry at the world and I don’t even know how to process my own emotions, being with you all here right now heals me more than you can ever imagine.

“I cannot tell you how we go forward, but I will tell you that Spartans will heal together. Forever and always, go green.”

Thousands of students reflexively responded with a “go white.” No exclamation points. It wasn’t a cheer. It was a subdued response, but powerful. 

“Communities as unique and special as ours are worth protecting,” Jeffery said during her speech moments earlier. “Please join us as we call out to every Michigan State student – past, present and future – and to our entire Lansing community to let them know that we stand together as one, to help each other in these dark times. Together we are Spartan Strong.”

Izzo was preceded at the microphone by interim Michigan State president Teresa Woodruff, whose addresses this week I’ve found to be dignified and relatable.

“Tonight, we remember and honor the three Spartan students who came to East Lansing to join this very special, this extraordinary Spartan community,” Woodruff said. “Let us each honor their character and their dreams by making them part of our own. They will be Spartans forever. 

“Let us also pause and send our prayers and humble utterances to the heavens for those struggling to recover from their wounds. Our prayers are also with the hands of our Sparrow doctors and nurses, still working to comfort and to heal.

“In our collective grief, hope and resolve, we are truly a Spartan Nation. Let us continue to find strength and hope in our community of Spartans. Let us keep our resolve in our heads and in our hearts as we reclaim our campus, your campus, for MSU’s mission of transformation.”

Dr. Rema Vassar, Chair of the Michigan State Board of Trustees, had a tear running down her cheek as she spoke. She was kind of amazing.

“‘Run, hide or fight,’” Vassar said. “‘Run, hide or fight.’ This was the alert that was given to all Spartans across the campus. 

“When I sent my baby here to MSU, I knew she would have a lot of messages. I thought maybe she would get a message about her homework, maybe she would get a message about a party, or an opportunity to volunteer. I didn’t think she would get a message about how to keep her life.

“I’m not here to argue gun policy. We know something is wrong and I also know that Spartans are the people to find sophisticated solutions to complex problems. We know Spartans will. 

“Spartans in D.C., Arkansas, California, China, South Africa – we have a global community who can bring about solutions. I believe in the transformative power of education to quite literally change the world. I know education can do this, and we know that Spartans are strong. We know this. And we know Spartans will. 

“I have full faith in our global community to help with these issues that brought us here today. But first, can we just center love? And a Godly love that has restorative power, a radical love that can lift us from depths of despair and sadness, a brave love that drives away fear. Can we center love? 

“I have two charges for you. The first charge is to love yourself. And love one another. Grief is personal. You have to commit yourself to yourself. Give yourself grace. And I’m talking to myself as I talk to you. I have a tendency to retreat and close off when I’m sad. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself. You need to love yourself first but then you need to love each other.

“We all have experienced this tragedy together. We all have gone through something that shakes and rocks our very world, that questions our security, that makes us afraid. Give that love to yourself and then give it to one another. Love is light. Walk into the bright green light that needs to shine for the world to see, supporting one another, loving one another, giving grace to one another.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a Michigan State graduate, relayed a conversation she had with the father of one of the victims.

“He told me about his beautiful, driven daughter,” Whitmer said. “She was home last weekend and couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved this campus and this school. She had that look in her eyes that so many of us do when we talk about MSU. She was exactly where she wanted to be. 

“Society and this country has failed her and failed you. She won’t be able to go to another basketball game or graduate from the school that she loved. It’s unacceptable and we cannot let it stand.

“I will do everything in my power to make sure that those that we’ve lost are not just numbers, or stories to be forgotten in a week or month from now. 

“We will heed the words of Alexandria, who we lost, and had some advice for underclassmen in her high school yearbook. She wrote: Today may be hard but tomorrow will be better. Together, let’s make sure that tomorrow is better. I love you.”

Izzo took a deep breath before he spoke. 

“Wow,” he said. “I normally speak more off the cuff, but when you’re following the governor, the president and doctors and you’re just the basketball coach, I decided to put more into it.”

In un-Izzo-like fashion, he wrote a prepared speech. He deviated from it a little bit, but soon after he began, he dropped this on us:

“Steven was at one of the buildings two nights ago about 10 minutes after things happened,” Izzo said of his son, who is a senior on the Michigan State basketball team. “So sometimes we don’t understand because we haven’t been through it. That little moment brought me a little closer to understanding.

“To the families of those who were senselessly taken from us, words seem so hollow right now. 

“To the individuals currently fighting for their lives in the hospital and their families, we are praying for you. My wife and I got a chance to go to the hospital and Govenor Whitmer was there and our president was there. Unbelievable people. There are so many good people in the world, the doctors and the nurses. 

“I’m also the father of two Spartans of my own. I can’t begin to imagine what all of you are going through. But I do know that we as a campus community can offer our support to both of you and to each other. Look around, look next to you, shake somebody’s hand, introduce yourself to someone you don’t know. That’s what we are and that’s what we need to be at this time.

“And to the students who listened to the shelter in place directive, your ability to follow protocol, even in the face of fear was incredible. 

“Michigan State is my home. Everyone thinks I’m a Yooper. Yes, that’s where I came from. But virtually all of my adult life, I’ve been a Spartan. I’ve seen some incredible highs and, yes, unfortunately there have been some devastating lows. But as a Spartan, we always get through it together. 

“We’re Spartan tough, we’re Spartan strong. If you need proof, look at us all standing here tonight. Each and every one of us. We have come for many different reasons – to heal, to grieve, to honor our victims, to stand up to fear, which you are going to have to do a lot in your life. 

“Whatever you’re feeling, it’s all valid. Emotions are different for each and every person. I cry in front of my team. I cry on national TV. Don’t be afraid to show your emotions. 

“Our hearts are heavy. Our loss has been great. Our lives have been permanently changed. But with a shared commitment to help each other and a promise to remember those we have lost, we will learn to find joy once again.

“I think that everybody spoke that something has to be done in our society. Gun violence is insane right now. We all have a platform. Some are small, some are high, but we all have a platform and I hope each and every one of you use your platform to help others so other families don’t have to go through what these families are going through now.

“I appreciate everybody for being here and before you leave, I hope you meet the 10 people around you and become closer. The world needs it. Michigan State needs it. A grieving time needs it. I need it.”

As for your correspondent, I did not attend the vigil. I couldn’t. 

On Tuesday, I went to the Sparty statue to take some photos for our website. I was there for less than two minutes and frankly had trouble keeping myself together and had to leave soon after snapping the photos. 

If I had gone to the vigil, I would not have been up to the standard of a professional reporter. I wouldn’t have lasted. It’s best that I wasn’t there. I took time to get away and do some physical things on Wednesday night. That’s what I needed to do. 

I watched a replay of the vigil late on Wednesday night. I planned to only write about Izzo’s address. But I found the words of the others to be so piercing and historic for this campus at this time that I felt I needed to highlight them here on our website which has transcended sports in the past three days.

Those who spoke at Wednesday’s vigil, from the venerable Izzo to the youthful students, offered a shared theme of advice for those in attendance – that there is no right or wrong way to handle moments like these. 

Were those their own words, or were those themes suggested to them by professionals who knew that some of us in the audience needed to hear those things? I don’t know. But they were on the mark. I am supposed to be a reporter, but I had become part of the target audience.

And I’m just an old graduate on the periphery. I can’t imagine how people closer to the tragedy are coping. 

I’ve been amazed and moved this week by these people who call themselves Spartans. That word goes beyond the sports teams at Michigan State. This week, it’s been exemplified.

Being a Spartan is a unique, special citizenry. These Spartans are truly leaning on one another to help themselves get through this. I’ve seen it. I hear it. I feel it. And I see Spartans calling on one another for more help, knowing they need it. 

The word “family” gets thrown around too much when describing sports teams, athletic departments and entire institutions. But that’s what this is like. It’s like an extended family, a second family. 

I suspect that’s part of why this hurts so much. And I suspect that’s also part of the path to healing. 

On Wednesday night, we all healed a little bit. But those three Spartans aren’t coming back. I’m shaken every time I stop and ponder that fact, and everything they hoped and expected Michigan State University would be, and everything it should have been for them. And it makes me hope and wish so hard that the number grows no greater than three.