Thursday 04/02/20 - Ghost Town

Michigan State’s Independent Voice

GHOST TOWN

‘We’re a nonessential business, (but) ... it’s essential for us to survive.’

PAGES 4-5 O PI N I O N

SP O RTS

CAM P US

Stimulus package doesn’t help college students

Former Spartan star trains youth online

Social media trends help some cope with isolation

‘Expenses can really add up.

Apparently, Congress either doesn’t know this, or they don’t care.’

Lexi Gussert is taking her basketball knowledge and putting it to use as seasons are cut short

TikTok and Instagram challenges are helping students connect online during social distancing

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T H U R S DAY, A PRI L 2, 2020

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STAT E N EWS.COM

OP I N I O N

COLUMN

U.S. stimulus package doesn’t help struggling college students

By Katie O’Brien Kelley kkelley@statenews.com

When I heard about the $2 trillion stimulus package, I felt a small wave of relief Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am no longer able to work one of my jobs.

Receiving more than $1,000 was going to help me, at least a little bit.

But Saturday, I found out that getting help from the government during this pandemic was unfortunately too good to be true for a college student like myself.

I, along with many other students, lost my on-campus job a few weeks ago. Every month during the school year, I try my best to work as much as I can at my two jobs so that I can pay rent and all of the other expenses that

coincide with being a college student.

Those expenses can really add up.

Apparently, Congress either doesn’t know this, or they don’t care.

Upon reading a New York Times article over the weekend, I discovered that students who are still claimed as a dependent on their parents’ or guardian’s taxes will not be able to receive a $1,200 check from the stimulus package. And parents who have dependents over the age of 16 will not receive the $500 payment detailed in the bill.

First off, $1,200 is really not enough to cover many households’ expenses, but that’s another column.

It didn’t surprise me that college students were somehow excluded from this package. However, I couldn’t help but be confused as to why one of the most financially struggling and vulnerable demographics in the U.S. is not receiving any money during a pandemic that has led to millions losing their jobs and filing for unemployment.

I’m claimed as a dependent. Many people my age still are. But, like many other college students, I pay for my own rent, my own food and manage my own tuition. Many students can’t rely on their parents to cover these expenses for various reasons, one being that college is incredibly expensive.

I’m heartbroken for so many college students who were already struggling and living paycheck to paycheck before this pandemic hit.

College students all across the U.S. have lost their jobs and still have to magically find a way to pay their rent without any help from the government. It’s unfair that they were not considered at all in this stimulus package.

College students are in a unique financial position. For instance, students might not be able to file for unemployment if they are full-time students and part-time workers. And losing any source of income can determine whether or not rent or a bill will be paid that month.

Some steps have been taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, like halting evictions in Michigan and some other states, but a lot of expenses still exist.

There’s currently not a freeze on rent payments, and many students are locked into year-long off-campus leases. They will have to pay for the remainder of their leases, even in these circumstances.

Many MSU students probably had to contemplate whether to go home or stay in East Lansing after classes transitioned online and the ‘Stay Home, Stay Safe’ order was implemented in

Michigan. I know I did. I knew that I’d have to pay rent with either decision I made.

CNN described this stimulus package as, “The largest emergency aid package in U.S. history. It represents a massive financial injection into a struggling economy with provisions aimed at helping American workers, small businesses and industries grappling with the economic disruption.”

But this package — the largest emergency aid package in the country’s history — still doesn’t help college students struggling during this uncertain time.

At all.

“I couldn’t help but be confused as to why one of the most financially struggling and vulnerable demographics in the U.S. is not receiving any money.”

Katie O’Brien Kelley State News staffer

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EDITORIAL

We need to thank, support essential workers The State News Editorial Board feedback@statenews.com No matter how old you are or what part of the country you live in, the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on everyone.

Since a majority of us are now trying to work remotely and practicing social distancing and self quarantining, many have found themselves without a job or in-person education.

This sudden change is difficult, especially since most are not used to social isolation.

But during these crazy times, remember those who are still working and putting themselves at risk. This includes medical professionals, law enforcement, sanitation teams, food workers, grocery store clerks and truck drivers among others.

All of these workers are essential, especially now. Even though many of them are putting themselves at a very high risk of contracting the illness, they are still working to protect their own livelihood, to make sure the rest of us stay safe and to keep our cities functioning.

We at The State News want to thank these heroes, and en-

“Medical professionals, law enforcement, sanitation teams, food workers, grocery store clerks and truck drivers among others— All of these workers are essential, especially now.” courage our audience to support them as much as possible.

That could mean donating money or goods to a cause fighting COVID-19, like the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, or Meals on Wheels America, which is safely delivering food to seniors.

There are other ways to help

out as well, such as making masks for doctors and patients, ordering takeout from a local business or just by telling your supermarket cashier to have a nice day and to stay safe.

Also, make sure you are following the proper actions to protect these workers and the community as a whole. Wash your hands, avoid touching your face, maintain at least six feet between yourself and the people around you, only go to the doctor for urgent appointments and only go to the grocery store when necessary.

All of these precautions will keep you and the people around you safe, especially those who are risking their health for the rest of us.

The State News Editorial Board is composed of Editor-in-Chief Madison O’Connor, Managing Editor Mila Murray, Copy Chief Alan Hettinger, Campus Editor Evan Jones, City Editor Haley Sinclair, Sports Editor Chase Michaelson, Photo Editor Annie Barker, Multimedia Editor Tessa Osborne, Social Media and Engagement Editor Wolfgang Ruth, Staff Representative Maddie Monroe and Diversity and Inclusion Representative Chandra Fleming.

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SPOTLIGHT

APPLY TO BE THE FUTURE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF FALL 2020-SPRING 2021

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Future un Story by Wendy Guzman wguzman@statenews.com Photos by Annie Barker abarker@statenews.com

If you’re an MSU student with a desire to lead an organization of 50+ staffers, are an agent of change and describe yourself as a news junkie, then The State News Board of Directors would like to talk to you.

We’re looking for someone who has visionary thinking, strong organizational skills and an ability to communicate with diverse groups of people around MSU and East Lansing.

On top of being home to Michigan State, East Lansing is also home to a number of businesses that thrive off the college community.

Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, many of these businesses are struggling to keep afloat as East Lansing starts to look more like a ghost town than a college town.

MSU made the decision to move all in-person classes online through the remainder of the semester March 14, which had an immediate effect on the city’s businesses.

“When the university closed, for us that’s when things started changing — sending the students home,” co-owner of Groovy Donuts Monica Lucas said.

Having opened their East Lansing location in September 2016, Groovy Donuts was beginning to take off, Lucas said.

“We’re right around the corner from starting to be able to pay off some debts for good and start taking off,” Lucas said. “And when the university sent the students home, we lost over 60% of our event orders, which are hundreds of dollars that we already had. A lot of them needed to be refunded immediately.”

Lucas said she and co-owner Andrew Gauthier

had to cancel and refund many orders, even though some of the ingredients had already been purchased.

On March 16, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered all bars and restaurants to close temporarily, offering only takeout and delivery options, which allowed many stores to still remain open.

Throughout the state, many businesses have been participating in “Takeout Tuesdays” and “The Great American Takeout,” creating deals for customers to continue supporting businesses.

“We’re getting a decent amount of orders,” Panda Express manager Kwan Kim said. “But still, compared to before this whole virus outbreak thing, we are losing a lot of money.”

Whitmer’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” executive order on March 23 called for the closure of all nonessential businesses. This led Curious Book Shop and Archives Book Shop owner Ray Walsh to transition his 50-year-old “nonessential” business online.

In addition to applying for loans, Walsh created a GoFundMe page for his stores, seeking donations to “(keep) the books housed, the lights on, the rent paid and our employees fed,” as it says on the page.

Curious Book Shop is also offering books to those who donate, and in the four days since it was started, nearly $7,000 has been fundraised.

“While we’re doing our best to adapt to these strange times by shifting focus to our online stores, the loss of the foot traffic we relied on so

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Downtown East Lansing on April 1.

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TH UR S DAY, AP R IL 2 , 2020

S POT L I G H T

’t think anyone really knows’:

ncertain for East Lansing small businesses “If nobody’s coming into town, it makes things a lot different — and not on the postivie side for sure.”

Ray Walsh Curious Book Shop owner heavily before has consequently endangered our livelihood,” Walsh wrote on the fundraiser page.

Having graduated from MSU in 1971, Walsh has been at the forefront of the East Lansing community for decades. He began selling books out of his house as a student in 1969, eventually making his way to the current Curious Book Shop location on Grand River Avenue in 1973, and then opened up Archives Book Shop further down Grand River Avenue in 1987.

“We’ve never really been in this kind of situation before. East Lansing really is a ghost town right now and nobody is out and about,” Walsh said.

“We still are selling books online, and we’re on Etsy and various other search engines.”

Organizations have begun helping these struggling businesses. Whitmer announced the availability of emergency relief funding for small businesses on March 19.

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership, or LEAP, has been working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, or MEDC, and other state economic development organizations to develop programs to allocate funds to small businesses in the Lansing region, according to LEAP’s website.

LEAP was allocated $600,000 in emergency small business relief grant funds from the MEDC to distribute 60 $10,000 grants to Lansing area small businesses, according to LEAP’s website.

Many other businesses are having to close their doors for the time being, as the future is uncertain.

“It’s frustrating to any business right now because you can’t really make a whole lot of plans. We’re just doing the best we can and trying to coordinate our efforts,” Walsh said. “It’s upsetting to us to have to let staff go, but when there’s no work that we can do, we, you know, we’re a nonessential business according to the state, but ... it’s essential for us to survive.”

Both Curious Book Shop and Groovy Donuts have had to lay off some of their staff. Groovy Donuts has all but one part-time baker remaining, according to their Facebook page.

Lucas and Gauthier have had to come in to bake themselves all night and have also shifted to being open for only four hours a day, Thursday through Sunday.

Groovy Donuts has kept their business alive using social media as well, frequently keeping their followers up to date. They posted a video to Facebook asking for help from customers, which

now has over 300 shares.

“You’ve done a lot already and we are very grateful,” Lucas said in the video, addressing her customers. “What I ask of you now is for maybe a little more push for the government to consider us for these grants and loans.”

In the last year, Lucas said in the video, Groovy Donuts hosted a number of charity events and donated $10,000 worth of donuts and other merchandise to the community. This support is the only thing Lucas has asked for in return, she said, and has since seen great responses and support from the community.

“All small businesses drive our community. And I don’t want anybody to think that I think that we are more important than our neighbors,” Lucas said. “I think it’s a horrible situation for everyone. I am, however, trying everything in my power to keep my business going, because it is my life.”

Some East Lansing business owners have witnessed others in the area struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s going to cause, I think, a dramatic negative effect in that many businesses, ourselves included, do rely on the student body and the professors and the alumni to survive,” Walsh said. “And it’s simply going to be an uphill battle and we appreciate all the assistance that we can get right now. I don’t think really anybody expected anything like this or knew it was coming. (They) would have prepared better for it.”

As the virus continues to spread, businesses continue to feel uncertain about their futures.

“I think that the problem is that there’s so much uncertainty. I highly doubt we’re going to be off of the shelter in place anytime soon,” Lucas said.

“It’s just for how much longer, I mean, if it’s ‘till June, which I think is very likely, it could go ‘till June. I don’t know how many of us there will be left.”

As for what East Lansing could look like after the pandemic, no one said they could be sure.

“You know, I have a background in fantasy and science fiction and this really isn’t anything that I’ve imagined is the future,” Walsh said. “And I don’t think anyone really knows. We have new construction that’s kind of stopped, and we have other plans to go forward with other things, but if nobody’s coming into town, it makes things a lot different — and not on the positive side for sure.”

TOP RIGHT: A sign in downtown East Lansing on April 1.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Downtown East Lansing on April 1.

T H U R S DAY, A PR IL 2 , 2020

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SPO RTS

RELIGIOUS DIRECTORY Stay up to date at: www.statenews.com/religious

All Saints Episcopal Church 800 Abbot Rd. (517) 351-7160 Sun. Worship: 8am, 10am, & 5pm Sunday School: 10am www.allsaints-el.org Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Road East Lansing (517) 337-9703 Sunday worship: 10:00am Sunday Bible study: 8:45am Thursday Bible study: 2:00pm www.ascensioneastlansing.org Crossway Multinational Church 4828 Hagadorn Rd. (Across from Fee Hall) (517) 917-0498 Sun: 10:00am crosswaymchurch.org Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. (Meet @ University Christian Church) (517) 898-3600 Sun: 8:45am Worship, 10am Bible Class Wed: 1pm, Small group bible study www.greaterlansing coc.org Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St. (517) 332-1916 Shabbat – Services@ 6pm / dinner @ 7, September–April www.msuhillel.org instagram: @msuhillel

The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing 920 S. Harrison Rd. (517) 351-4309 Friday Services: 12:15-12:45pm & 1:45-2:15pm For prayer times visit www.lansingislam.com/ Martin Luther Chapel Lutheran Student Center 444 Abbot Rd. (517) 332-0778 Sun: 10:30am & 7pm Wed: 7pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring) www.martinluther chapel.org The People’s Church Multi-denominational 200 W Grand River Ave. (517)332-6074 Sun. Service: 10:30am with free lunch for students following worship ThePeoplesChurch.com Riverview Church- MSU Venue MSU Union Ballroom, 2nd Floor 49 Abbot Rd. (517) 694-3400 Sun. Worship: 11:30am-ish www.rivchurch.com St. Paul Lutheran Church (ELCA) Worship with us on Sundays at 10am 3383 E. Lake Lansing Rd 517-351-8541 www.stpaul-el.org officemanagerstpaul el@gmail.com

St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C Ave. (517) 337-9778 Sun: 8am, 10am, Noon, 5pm, 7pm M,W: 5:30pm T & Th: 8:45pm F: 12:15pm www.stjohnmsu.org University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd (517) 332-5193 Sun. Bible Study: 10am Sun. Worship: 11:15am www.universitychristianwired.com University Lutheran Church (ULC) “We’re open in every way” 1020 S. Harrison Rd (517) 351-7030 Sun. Worship: 8:30am & 10:45am Fridays@Five: Dinner, discussion & fun 5pm Mon. Bible Study: 6:30pm @Wells Hall Quad www.ulcel.org Facebook: ULC and Campus Ministry University United Methodist Church 1020 S. Harrison Rd (517) 351-7030 Main Service: Sun: 11am in the Sanctuary Additional Services: NEW contemporary service Sundays at 9am with band titled ‘REACH’ TGiT (Thank God its Thursday): Thur: 8pm in the Chapel of Apostles universitychurchhome.org office@eluumc.org WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbot Rd. (517) 580-3744 Sat: 6:30pm msu.edu/~welsluth

Religious Organizations:

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MSU football update: Where the Spartans stand in April

By Elijah McKown emckown@statenews.com It has now been three weeks since almost all sporting events in the United States have come to a halt, but that hasn’t stopped the Michigan State football program from doing as much as they can to prepare for the upcoming season, assuming it takes place.

Despite an already shortened time to build up his program, newly-appointed coach Mel Tucker and his staff have been, in their own words, “relentless” in their effort to make this transition into this new season as smooth as possible.

But where is Michigan State in its process of shaping up the team? Here is an update on everything you need to know about Michigan State football.

OFFENSE

Let’s start with the position that everyone wants to know about, the quarterback. This group might be one of the youngest, and one of the more inexperienced groups, that the 2020 squad has. While new Offensive Coordinator Jay Johnson has not had much time to analyze the players, he has a specific mold he wants to fill in his mind.

“At the end of the day, they are the CEO of this team,” Johnson said. “I’m looking for someone who has that presence to them, because at the end of the day their number one job is to get the 10 around them to play at a new level and to lead our team.”

Johnson said he has not been able to see much action on the field of his quarterback group, but he has been taking time to watch some film.

In his time studying film, Johnson said he was impressed with sophomore Theo Day’s ability to throw the football.

“When I watch his tape, the ball comes out of his hand real well,” Johnson said. “I’m excited to get with him more in person and get on the field and do some things with him.”

After stepping into the transfer portal midway through last season, Connor Heyward has decided to return to East Lansing in the hope that a new coaching staff might do him some good. Despite rumors that he might switch to the defensive side of the ball, it appears that, for now, the coaching staff will try to make him a one-two punch in the backfield with Elijah Collins, who broke out in his freshman season after Heyward’s initial departure from the team.

One of the positions that will block for guys like Collins and Heyward is the tight end position. This position has been something left desired for the Spartans in recent years. Expect that to change under Johnson, who stressed the importance of that position in a teleconference March 25. Since Matt Seybert graduated, redshirt sophomore Trenton Gillison headlines the group that includes senior Matt Dotson and redshirt sophomore Parks Gissinger.

“The tight end is the MVP of what we do offensively,” Johnson said. “They’ve got to be aggressive and physical from the blocking perspective and they have to be able to run routes and get open. That definitely is going to be a big focus for us.”

Senior offensive lineman Matt Allen said one of the biggest challenges he has had thus far is learning the new lingo of the staff. Pair this information with a completely new staff, and it is fair to assume that the Spartans’ offense will have a new look come this fall.

DEFENSE

With a lot of the same staff returning on the defensive side of the ball, expect to only see gradual changes in the defense. New Defensive Coordinator Scottie Hazelton and Tucker have said repeatedly that they do not want to be fully committed to one scheme, and that they want to 6

T H E STAT E N EWS

Freshman wide receiver Julian Barnett (2) runs upfield during the game against Illinois on Nov. 9, 2019 at Spartan Stadium. PHOTO BY MATT SCHMUCKER

find a scheme that fits the personnel they have best.

Considering the way former coach Mark Dantonio and his staff recruited, expect to see more of the classic 4-3 scheme the Spartans have rolled out in the past.

“We’ve been four down here for a long time, and we’ve recruited for that, so we’ll probably see a lot more of that.” Hazelton said.

Hazelton is taking the helm of a defense that has been stout year in, year out. In his short time as defensive coordinator, he has already made a large impact on the players on that side of the ball, senior linebacker Antjuan Simmons said.

“I have loved every second talking to him (Hazelton) and being around him,” Simmons said. “When he talks, we listen. He’s got that type of presence with us and with the team.”

With guys like Ron Burton, Harlon Barnett and Mike Tressel all returning to coach the defense this season, Hazelton and Tucker will bring some fresh ideas to defense, with the principles of old still lingering.

IMPACTS OF COVID-19

Like everybody in today’s crazy world, the staff has had to be creative in the way they do business in the age of social distancing, and just like the rest of the world, Simmons said Zoom meetings have become a must.

“We’re all on Zoom,” Simmons said. “We’re real heavy into that, and we treat our days as if we're at school ... we just treat it as if it’s another day in the building.”

With no access to the facilities, players have had to be creative to complete workouts. Some have better setups than others, like Allen having his brother and former Spartan offensive lineman Jack Allen home to work with him and blocking pads to work on his technique. Others have had to be innovative, including AJ Arcuri, who has resorted to using a broomstick with cinder blocks on each side to lift.

Despite the struggles, Simmons said he understands the importance of the shutdown.

“It’s tough,” Simmons said. “It's the best thing to do right now for everybody ... It'd be completely unsafe for us football teams to be out there working out. ... It just shows who is committed and who’s not.”

With spring practices and the green and white game being put on hold, we might not get to see the Spartans until early September, when they take on Northwestern.

TH UR S DAY, AP R IL 2 , 2020

S PORTS

‘If I can just do my part’: Former Spartan star Lexi Gussert helps youth develop basketball skills online

Then-freshman guard/forward Lexi Gussert attempts a point Jan. 18, 2015, during the game against Iowa at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Hawkeyes. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

By Devin Anderson-Torrez dandersontorrez@statenews.com Let’s be honest. As easy as it might sound to stay at home during a time like this, it’s not. People still want to do their part. For some, that means being on the frontlines combating COVID-19, but for most it means staying put in their homes.

But that’s hard, especially for people who want to help.

Lexi Gussert is one of those people.

The former Spartan basketball captain, and graduate assistant with the team, has always tried to give back any way she can.

Missing basketball and coaching while back home in Crystal Falls in the Upper Peninsula, Gussert came up with an idea. She trained players in the past, so she thought her way of helping could be to start a YouTube channel and post drills to keep players active and developing during this time.

“I’ve actually done player development, even when I was a player at Michigan State I would do it on the side with kids,” Gussert said. “I’ve always enjoyed training kids, just because where I’m from we didn’t really have trainers, so it’s cool to be able to be a resource for the kids down there.”

She said she enjoys training others and thought this would be an opportunity to help in a small way during the crisis.

“I found a passion for it right then and there and I’ve continued to do it. Now that this has all happened, I just figured everyone is trying to find a way to do their own part,” Gussert said.

“Some people are a little more essential than others — we have healthcare professionals risking their lives every day — I just figured I could do my part and offer some lessons and create a group just to keep the kids moving. A lot of people are freaking out and they're afraid, so if I can just do my part to allow them to keep learning and focused on

RIGHT: Then-senior guard Anna Morrissey and then-freshman guard/forward Lexi Gussert cheer Jan. 25, 2015, during the game against Wisconsin at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Badgers, 77-71.

STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

“A lot of people are freaking out and they’re afraid, so if I can just do my part to allow them to keep learning and focused on themselves getting better, I’d be pretty happy about it.”

Lexi Gussert MSU women’s basketball graduate assistant

themselves getting better, I’d be pretty happy about it.”

Gussert always finds a way to share her love for the game.

Prior to her last year as a graduate assistant for the Spartans, she played professionally in Tasmania, Australia. After injuring her ankle, she stayed there to help the team and youth players develop their skills.

“Even though I couldn’t keep playing I could still share my knowledge and love for the game through the kids,” Gussert said. “I think that was a pivotal moment to keep doing what I’m doing because once my ankle got bad I couldn’t keep playing, I had to put my energy elsewhere.”

While Gussert said Tasmania was a turning point for her, giving back has always been something she wanted to do, especially within her sport. She said her years as a Spartan helped her with that.

“I just give credit to everyone I’ve been around, how I was raised and the people that I continue to keep myself around,” Gussert said.

“Being at Michigan State, (coach) Suzy (Merchant) took me under her wing, she’s very huge in that … giving back to especially young women in the community. Just surrounding yourself with good people, so I think I was pretty lucky and I also made the right choices sticking around people that I saw making a positive impact and looking up to those people.”

Since posting her training videos, she has received

positive feedback.

Youth players have submitted videos of themselves doing her drills from places as far away as Oregon.

Gussert said she just hopes she can help people trying to improve their skills during this time.

“It’s really cool that all of them are doing it, but even if I can give one to five people something to look forward to each day, that’s successful in my eyes ... if I can be that person for them, to give them hope and to follow their dreams,” Gussert said.

She has already impacted some players who have started to do her drills at home every day.

Karissa Cochran, a sophomore basketball player at Holt High School, was set to play in the regional championship against East Lansing High School before her season was sidelined by the coronavirus.

“Lexi put some drills online that have really helped me continue to grow while we are waiting this out,” Cochran said. “I do the drills that she put on YouTube and try to do them as if I were doing them with her, and it’s been really helpful.”

Cochran has been one of the many to use Gussert’s drills to scratch that basketball itch she has from her season being cut short. “(The) season being stopped so suddenly has definitely left me wanting more basketball, especially since we were about to play in the regional

finals,” Cochran said. “Plus, my (Amateur Athletic Union) season was supposed to start this month after the high school tournament, but having Lexi and her at-home drills has really helped me kind of stay focused on the positive that I still have a way to continue to grow and do basketball.”

On top of the drills, Gussert has also been posting off-the-

court help.

“What people are liking the most, I think, is the more learning side,” Gussert said.

“I did a PowerPoint the other day, people keep reaching out asking me to explain my experiences more. I think people really want to hear that side too, rather than just on-court stuff.”

Gussert spent her last graduate year with the

Spartans this season. While her future is uncertain, she knows that she wants to stay in the game.

“I know it’s going to be really hard, I know I’m the only person in that position,” Gussert said. “It’s gonna be tough, so I’m gonna continue to do the player development side right now and keep an open mind.”

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CAMP U S

Social media trends help some students cope with isolation

By SaMya Overall soverall@statenews.com The COVID-19 pandemic and the Stay Home, Stay Safe executive order require students to hit pause on their social gatherings, including friend hangouts, study groups and parties.

To alleviate the feelings of isolation, many students have begun to focus their social interactions through social media trends and challenges.

These trends have become increasingly popular since early March, when Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the first confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Michigan.

“Given social distancing and the fact that people can’t connect in physical spaces, they are turning to the social media platforms they already use in their everyday lives and using those even more to connect with friends, family and in the case of education, other students.”

Christine Greenhow, associate professor of educational psychology and technology, said.

Some popular challenges include “Until tomorrow,” where Instagram users post embarrassing or strange pictures and wait for their followers to like the picture before prompting them to do the same thing, or “See a pup, Send a pup,” which encourages Facebook users to share a picture of their pets.

The challenges, though seemingly silly, give students an opportunity to engage in social interaction when in-person interaction is strongly discouraged.

“We know from the educational technology research and the research that I have done ... that social media can help students and young people feel more connected to each other especially in times of crisis,” Greenhow said. “It can reduce the sense of isolation people feel when they are immersed in a supportive social media community.”

Business freshman Hannah Sherman participated in the "20 Beautiful Women" challenge on Instagram, where female users post a picture of themselves and tag 20 other users to do the same to promote self-love. Sherman said she thinks this challenge is a good way to spread positivity during social distancing.

"I think a lot of negativity is being spread through social media," Sherman said. "But things like this are what you can kind of look at and look forward to in our society. I feel like it would spread positivity and just let people know, 'Hey, I love you and we're going to be okay.' Just a reminder that we're gonna get through this together."

However, some students, such as mechanical engineering sophomore Brandon Surhigh, said they believe the social media challenges are a waste of time.

“I think that social media challenges, they’re alright for some people,” Surhigh said. “I think coming toward our age group, they start to become not alright.

Overall, for social media challenges, I think that they’re pretty ridiculous. ...

None of them are good, I don’t think. I think every single one that I’ve seen has been awful.”

Surhigh said one of his least favorite challenges is where people post and tell their friends to “send an X" if they

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T HE STAT E N EWS

A State News article from 1999 about Michigan State offering free meningitis vaccines. STATE NEWS ARCHIVES

An MSU student checks social media during the coronavirus stay-in-place quarantine March 30. PHOTO BY MATT ZUBIK

Throwback Thursday: Revisiting the 1999 meningitis outbreak

By Karly Graham kgraham@statenews.com

“Social media an help students and young people feel more connected to each other especially in times of crisis.”

Christine Greenhow Associate professor of educational psychology and technology can count on them because he feels the challenge is valueless and doesn't really show who your true friends are.

Greenhow said he believes, while social media challenges can be beneficial, they can also increase the spread of fake news.

“I think misinformation can spread on social media when people pass along information from sources they don’t vet to make sure that those sources are credible,” Greenhow said. “Because this information is coming from someone they know, like a friend or a family member, they may be more likely to believe it or pass it on without being critical.”

Instead of social media challenges, Surhigh said he thinks people should

THU R SDAY, A PR IL 2 , 2020

keep up-to-date on current events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and participate in other, more meaningful social distancing activities.

“Definitely read,” Surhigh said. “This is going to be a time where reading and music can help you develop more artistic thinking, because people have said before that there’s been a lot of art and discovery and exploration that’s come out of pandemics simply because you’re alone all day and you’re really able to process your humanity.”

It is unclear if the participation in social media challenges and trends will decrease once things begin to return to normal, Greenhow said.

“We see a jump in Instagram use, TikTok use and YouTube use, for sure,” Greenhow said. “I think that’s because people have more time to go online.

Their normal rhythms are interrupted, so they’re turning to Instagram to post about what’s going on with them ... Is that spike going to continue when things start to go back to normal or subside? I don’t know. I think it depends on how long we’re like this so that our increased social media use becomes a part of our new routine. In some cases, when we ‘go back to normal,’ we may have these new routines that include more social media and use of the internet then we had before.”

In 1999, the meningitis outbreak hit Michigan State when a member of the marching band received a positive diagnosis.

Prior to this outbreak, the last time the university had seen an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis was in 1997, when two students died of the infection, according to The State News' archives.

In order to prevent the spread of the disease, MSU had a full day where they offered free vaccinations.

2,300 students received the vaccination, which was 80 to 90% effective at preventing four of five strains of meningococcal meningitis, according to the archived article.

“There was more, I think, emphasis on getting that vaccine to the students,” said Elizabeth Hardy, formerly Elizabeth Vanden Boom, the then-State News reporter covering the outbreak. “I mean, that happened pretty quickly after they identified that student as having meningitis.”

Hardy recalled people living in Wilson Hall — the residence hall where the band member lived — experiencing more fear because they had been in closer proximity to people who might have been exposed to the bacteria.

“The university was trying to disseminate information and dispel that kind of fears that people have when something like this happens, and I think they did a pretty good job,” Hardy said.

“This coronavirus is obviously something that the world has never seen before, so it’s kind of hard to see many similarities to meningitis.”

Elizabeth Hardy Then-State News reporter Hardy said the meningitis outbreak at the time was scary, but the COVID-19 pandemic is reaching a much larger scale and is much scarier to students.

“This coronavirus is obviously something that the world has never seen before, so it’s kind of hard to see many similarities to meningitis,” Hardy said.

“I don’t feel like there was a great sense of panic or anything in the university at that time.”

Since the university suspended in-person instruction and transitioned to online classes March 11, students have been packing up their dorms and heading to their permanent residences.

Since then, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has announced a “Stay Home, Stay Safe,” executive order, requiring all non-essential businesses be closed. It also encourages Michiganders to stay in their homes and limit their contact with other people. A vaccine for COVID-19 has yet to be developed.