Michigan State University announced that Berkey Hall will remain closed until the end of the year, but the student union will partially reopen on April 3.
Both Burke and the Student Union were the sites of a deadly mass shooting on Feb. 13 that killed three students and injured five others.
Berkey Hall will remain closed to classes and events for this semester, summer and fall 2023 as the university determines its next steps, according to university officials.
The MSU Student Union will have a partial reopening because leaders said it is an important resource for students and the community, but the food court will remain closed for the time being
“As you decide when the time is right to revisit the MSU Union, we want to give you an idea of what to expect when you return. The first floor lounges will be open along with a Sparty mini-mart and computer labs. The building will also feature therapy dogs, who will welcome you will be present to support both staff and students,” the letter reads.
Earlier this month, the university also announced security changes following the campus shooting.
MSU announces security update
Most buildings on campus will require keycard access between 6pm and 7:30am the following day. The school will also equip 1,300 classrooms with locks and additional security cameras will be on campus, including in academic buildings.
MSU police also say they will continue to work to centralize all security systems. In addition, active violence/disruption training for staff and students will also be required starting this fall.
MSU leaders say these steps are just the beginning, and as the changes are announced, students are still trying to get back to normal on campus.
“It’s hard to think about it in a new light because I never checked how many cameras are in the classroom building before this incident,” said Ariel Gearing.
Shooting timelines
On March 10, Michigan State University’s Department of Police and Public Safety released a statement about last month’s MSU campus shooting, detailing the timeline and showing the note the shooter left.
MSU police are releasing a timeline of the shooting, noting that the gunman remains
According to police, preliminary findings provided a detailed timeline of the shooter’s presence on campus on the evening of February 13. The shooter killed himself the same night.
According to police, the timeline is below.
- 8:18 p.m. – First call of shots fired at Burke Hall received by Ingham County 911
- 8:20pm – Officers entered Burke Hall
- 20:24 – McRae entered the Union
- 20:26 – The first report of shooting in the Union
- 8:26 PM – McRae exited the Union and left campus
- 20:27 – Officers arrived at the union
- 20:30 – The first emergency warning message was sent
- 20:31 – A second emergency alert has been sent
- 11:18 a.m. – A photo of the suspect was shared on MSU DPPS social media
- 11:35 pm – Ingham County 911 receives a call of a person matching the description walking on Lake Lansing in the Town of Lansing on High St.
- 11:49 a.m. – Officers approach McRae and he shoots himself
Police said they are still investigating the route he took as he left campus.
According to police, Ingham County 911 received 2,100 calls — 1,450 of which were 911 calls — between 8 p.m. on Feb. 13 and 1 a.m. on Feb. 14. – Hour period.
Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch said in a news release that they quickly mobilized more than 20 personnel, including on-duty workers.
