EAST LANSING, Mich. — Feb. 13 marks one year since a mass shooting on Michigan State University's campus that took the lives of three students.
The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety has spent the past year working to help students and staff feel safer on campus.
They released a follow-up with updates on the progress of their initial plan to bolster security and sat down with 13 On Your Side to explain what's next.
Metal detectors
Status: Complete
The first update MSU put in place was walk-through metal detectors in Spartan Stadium. This was completed in September 2023. They were also later installed at Munn Ice Arena and the MSU Tennis Center.
Dana Whyte, spokesperson for MSU police and public safety, said it's made getting into large events quicker and safer.
"We've actually found that the metal detectors has helped the process of people getting inside of the stadium," Whyte said. "Now, people just walk through the metal detector, and it only goes off if they have something on them."
The Breslin Student Events Center already had metal detectors. The Wharton Center for Performing Arts has them available if needed.
Third-party after-action review
Status: Complete
Security Risk Management Consultants helped assess MSU's plan with an after-action review, completed in October of 2023. They recommended many of the following updates to campus security. The final report can be found here.
MSU Alert enhancements
Status: In progress
MSU is in the process of enhancing their mass notification system. While they could previously only send out MSU Alerts through email, text and phone call, they've now added alerts through the SafeMSU app.
"A lot of feedback that we got from our community is that people want to receive alerts in different and more ways," Whyte said.
It does not require student identification, meaning anyone can download it.
"If you're on campus visiting a friend or if you're a parent, you can download the app and still get the alerts through there," Whyte said.
The university has also added outdoor sirens so people can be alerted to an emergency even if they aren't carrying a phone.
Door lock installations
Status: In progress
One of the biggest plans is adding new door locks to classrooms and larger event spaces, a project that is 82% complete as of January.
Whyte said most classrooms will be getting typical thumb turn locks that will be able to be locked from inside the classroom, something not available at Berkey Hall last year.
"They determined which doors needed an upgrade, and what locks would go there or which doors were secured and already good to go," Whyte said.
Larger spaces will have lock down buttons, which Whyte said would lock all of the doors associated with the room and then notify 911 If there is an emergency taking place.
Security Operations Center
Status: In progress
The Security Operations Center, or SOC, has the ability to lock down all of the doors in one building from a centralized location. While work on the permanent space is still being done, the SOC is already up and running from a temporary spot.
This project includes adding more security cameras, including inside of buildings. Whyte said they've already added hundreds to the 2,000 MSU had on campus prior to Feb. 13, 2023.
Active violence incident training
Status: In progress
The final step in their plan, violence incident training, is an online program already available to students and staff.
They're additionally working on a training video, which they plan to release this semester.
Marlon Lynch, Vice President and Chief Safety Officer at MSU, is leaving the school in early march. Whyte said this will not impact the school's ability to implement the action plan.
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