MSU Students Rally for Change as Gov. Walz Praises Activism After Campus Shooting

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joined students at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing on Friday to rally support for the upcoming election and emphasize the importance of civic engagement. The event came in the wake of a deadly shooting on campus last year that left three students dead and five injured, sparking a wave of activism among students.

Walz and congressional candidate Curtis Hertel praised students for their swift response to the Feb. 13, 2023, shooting, where they protested, advocated for change and helped advance new gun safety legislation. Hertel, an MSU alumnus, spoke of the fear and pain he felt as a graduate and parent of a student on campus that night. He recalled how his son narrowly avoided danger, but also how the tragedy rallied the campus community.

“Students stood up, students marched … and we changed laws to protect people so what happened at MSU never happens to any child again,” he said. After the shooting, MSU students advocated for new legislation, leading to the implementation of universal background checks, safe gun storage laws and extreme risk protection orders in Michigan.

As students gathered around “Spartans for Harris Walz” signs, Walz expressed gratitude for their involvement in the political process. “When young people get involved, it reinforces the idea that the future can be brighter and that our democracy is strong,” he said.

Walz took the opportunity to praise Vice President Kamala Harris for her composure during the recent presidential debate, comparing her leadership to that of Donald Trump. He described Trump's behavior as that of “an angry man yelling at people to get out of his yard,” while praising Harris for showing “composure, dignity and an understanding that she works for you.”

Michigan State University Democrats President Liam Richichi echoed the importance of student activism. “We know this is something we will never overcome, and that’s why we’re fighting so hard to win this election,” he said, referring to the three students killed in the 2023 shooting.

Walz concluded by urging students to stay engaged, emphasizing Michigan’s key role in the upcoming election. He stressed that Midwesterners’ kindness should not be mistaken for weakness, and that this common value is what unites voters in states like Michigan and Minnesota.