A widespread power outage at Michigan State University in East Lansing closed all campus dining locations and canceled a scheduled performance at the Wharton Center on Saturday afternoon.
Michigan State University lost power across its East Lansing campus on Saturday, September 19, 2026, disrupting routines for students, faculty, and staff. The outage started around 4:15 p.m. and was traced to a problem at the T. B. Simon Power Plant on Service Road, according to university officials and emergency communications from the City of East Lansing. MSU's Infrastructure Planning and Facilities team responded immediately and worked through the evening to restore electricity (Detroit News).
All campus dining locations-including residential halls, retail spots, and the Kellogg Conference Center-were closed until further notice, according to Eat at State. This left thousands of students without on-campus meal options and affected staff working late shifts. The university shared updates through official channels and social media, stressing that safety was the main concern and that there were no other threats to campus security beyond the outage itself.
The Wharton Center for Performing Arts canceled its evening performance of "Beetlejuice" due to the outage. The ticket office said more information about rescheduling or refunds would be available once MSU provided updates. Other campus events were also affected, including the MSU volleyball match against Wright State and an event at the Kellogg Center, showing how the outage disrupted a wide range of activities (WILX).
The timing was especially difficult, coming just hours before MSU's away football game at Notre Dame, which was set for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. While the game took place off campus, the outage still affected students and staff preparing for the evening, highlighting how campus infrastructure and community events are connected.
Nadia Vizueta, communications manager for the Department of Police and Public Safety, confirmed the outage was campuswide and urged anyone with emergencies to call or text 911. For non-emergencies, the university provided a dedicated line at 517-355-2221. The Department of Police and Public Safety, along with local emergency services and the City of East Lansing, continued to monitor the situation and share updates as they became available.
MSU's facilities team focused on diagnosing and repairing the issue at the power plant. The university kept students and staff informed through social media and direct notifications, following emergency communication practices recommended by the State of Michigan. Residents and families nearby could find more updates and resources through the City of East Lansing portal and the Ingham County emergency management office.
Events like this highlight the need for reliable infrastructure and coordinated emergency response between universities and local agencies. School districts in the region, including Farmington Public Schools, regularly review their own emergency plans to prepare for power outages and other public safety issues.
