East Lansing City Council Member Dana Watson said she is excited the number of people getting vaccinated is increasing, and thinks fall will look closer to normal.
“I’m hopeful that in the summertime, we’ll see different tilts because more people will be vaccinated,” she said.
City Council Member Jessy Gregg said restrictions will not be lifted until the number of COVID-19 cases go down.
“I wouldn’t say I am expecting a further crackdown, but I’m not expecting a super-quick lifting of the capacity restrictions, either,” said Gregg.
Some council members said they have seen positives with online meetings.
Amber Higgins
“On March 26, East Lansing city council approved a policy resolution confirming that the online format for council meetings will continue as long as the City State of Emergency remains in effect. Tentative end date is currently May 16.”“Since we have moved to online, we have seen kind of an increase from more casual people. Just you know, phoning in, and I think partially that is because it is easier,” said Gregg.
Economic Development Director Adam Cummins said he also hopes to continue with online formatting. There has been talk of hybrid meetings becoming the new normal.
“The City Council calls through Zoom, have actually increased community participation,” he said. “I think a hybrid system is absolutely feasible, it is just a matter of working out those logistics on what that looks like to make sure that it is not gonna consume a significant amount of time to make that happen.”
Sophia Kalakailo, city desk editor for the State News, is not as confident that online meetings are as beneficial.
“Sometimes it seems like there are conversations that definitely happen behind closed doors, it’s not always like the conversation is happening in front of us. I don’t know if that is an issue specific to it being virtual, but i’m sure it being virtual doesn’t help,” said Kalakailo.
MSU plans return to in-person classes
Michigan State plans to hold 75% of classes in person starting in September. Some students are looking forward to face-to-face interaction again. Senior Joe Freihofer said he hopes things go back to normal, as it has been a hard year for everyone.
“It really sucks not to be able to go on campus and see all of your friends. That face-to-face interaction not only motivates you but gives a really crucial connection with your teachers and your classmates,” he said.
MSU senior Emily Towns said she feels that experiences in the classroom elevate the amount of information students retain. Half her classes were in-person this semester and she said she felt as safe as possible.
“With students able to get their vaccines here at MSU, hopefully by the fall, we’ll all be mostly vaccinated and won’t have to meet on Zoom screens anymore,” she said. “In-person classes have been so much better for my mental health. My hope is that in the fall, Spartans will be able to return to their home turf.”