On February 14th, 2023, a tragic shooting occurred at Michigan State University, leaving three students dead and five wounded. It happened at both the Berkey Hall and the MSU Student Union, two places of education and fellowship, where students were working and socializing. It is believed that the shooter, with no ties to MSU, had chosen the university deliberately to send a message.

The campus rock across the street from MSU College of Education now features painted words that capture the emotion of the moment—“How many more?”. Josh Cowen, a professor of education policy at Michigan State says, “we’re aspirational in these communities. We’re looking for more—if elementary and secondary classrooms are about development, universities are about experience.”

In a statement to the press, Governor Whitmer called for solidarity, stating