ANN ARBOR, MI — St. Patrick’s Day is normally a time for college students to take a break, put on their best green outfit and have a drink.

This year, however, there was a different feel around the University of Michigan and Michigan State University campuses.

The few students who were out on campus at UM on Tuesday showed no signs of celebration. Many were walking around taking pictures in the Diag or in front of the Michigan Union, not knowing what the future holds.

For seniors, it wasn’t supposed to end like this — leaving campus more than a month early due to a fearsome pandemic. They were supposed to graduate May 2, walking across the stage at the Big House to accept their degree. Now, due to concerns over the spread of the new coronavirus, that has been canceled, and students have been told to go home and finish their classes online.

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Lindsay Greenberg, when asked about her reaction to commencement ceremonies being canceled, simply frowned.

“I am devastated — it actually hasn’t kicked in,” said Greenberg, a communications major from Chicago. “I’m trying to cope as best I can, but I think I’m just in denial.”

Greenberg and her friend Blake Canowitz were taking their “non-graduation photos” at the Michigan Union sign. Greenberg said the mood around campus has been “dead empty." She said she walked two blocks from the Union to The M-Den to get an outfit for her unofficial senior pictures, and saw just five people.

With one coronavirus case on each campus, UM and MSU urge students to go home

Greenberg also said she had a bucket list of things to do in Ann Arbor, which included visiting some bars around town. Now that she has to leave early, and with bars ordered by the state to shut down, she won’t get to complete her list.

The university has said it would look for ways to celebrate 2020 graduates in the future, Canowitz wondered if it would ever be possible to gather all seniors on campus again.

Janine Meng, an economics major from Taiwan, was also taking pictures with some of her fellow seniors at the Diag. She said she hopes to stay in the United States, but some of her friends have already booked flights back to Taiwan now that the school is closing.

“Because everyone’s leaving, the campus is so empty and sad right now,” Meng said. “We’re graduating. Commencement’s canceled. Everything’s not how they should be, and it’s really sad to see all of this, like how our college life is ending this way.”

Sadness and emptiness surrounded local bars, too, which normally would be serving hundreds or even thousands on St. Patrick’s Day. Ashley’s, an Irish pub on State Street, was closed until March 30. The Blue Leprechaun on University Avenue appeared to be completely empty. Traditional Irish pub Conor O’Neill’s on Main Street was offering curbside service from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The quiet even extended to fraternity houses, where St. Patrick’s Day and approaching graduation would normal bring out the loud music and red Solo cups. Most of the activity along Washtenaw Avenue on Tuesday came from runners and dog walkers.

The state has banned gatherings of more than 50 people and health officials have advised against even small social gatherings, urging isolation whenever possible. The Washtenaw County Sheriff has warned of intentions to enforce the ban.

Instead of celebrating at bars or fraternity houses and taking a break from classes, students — especially seniors — are simply trying to finish the year and hope they graduate.

“Hopefully, (the university) is understanding of the circumstances and maybe will let people come back, but you just never know,” Greenberg said.

Michigan State University

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in East Lansing also looked vastly different from the norm Tuesday. There were no lines at the bars and the fraternity houses were mostly quiet.

“It’s crazy to see,” junior Chase McManaman said. “It’s really laid back.”

McManaman was celebrating the day with his roommates, drinking and playing beer pong outside in a small group.

“If any one of us gets sick, we’re all sick anyway,” said his roommate Asher Lin, a senior.

Across the street, there was a slightly larger party, with friends gathering to celebrate.

“We’re trying to live business as usual,” junior Josh Lucas said.

Senior Caleb Dushan was sitting on his balcony, listening to an online lecture. He was considering visiting a friend for a small celebration after the online class.

“It’s pretty quiet,” he said.

His friend, senior Brandon Rothenberg, was sitting on the balcony too. It was a weird St. Patrick’s Day for him.

“There’s just a huge damper,” he Rothenberg. “It’s scary.”

The changes to graduation hadn’t sunk in for him yet, he said. Students were expecting to walk across stages from May 1 to 3. He expects the changes to hit him some time in April, as the semester winds down.

“It feels surreal,” he said.

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PREVENTION TIPS

Michigan’s State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips:

What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases:

· Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

· Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same.

· Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

· Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

· Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available.

· Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.).

· It’s not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season.

For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus.