A few weeks ago, my university made the executive decision to hold off on opening campus till at least September 14th. While I was super bummed because I want everything to go back to normal as much as the next person, it is what several schools decided to do.
However, not all of them got the memo. Personally, I am back in my college town anyway living in my overpriced apartment, and I am waiting patiently for the day my friends and I can go back to our norm. Some students at the schools who decided to open didn't feel the need to wait.
You've probably seen a lot of back-to-school TikToks lately: dorm decorating, roommate checks, freshman year memories. This also means that you've probably seen the 'iconic' slip 'n' slide party, large gatherings all over, and the very obvious lack of social distancing and respect. At this point, all I can do is shake my head and sigh.
The most trending shut down is currently located at UNC Chapel Hill. A report by Inside Higher Ed said, "The déjà vu-style announcement came as the university updated its COVID-19 "dashboard" for the first week of the semester. Between Aug. 10 and 16, Chapel Hill tested 954 students for coronavirus. Some 130 tested positive, along with five employees."
Students at UNC had to pack up and move out of their dorms immediately. School officials are currently worried about mending their reputation after photos and videos of large groups of their students without masks and distancing have surfaced. The student newspaper even ran an editorial titled "We All Saw This Coming."
Other schools, such as the University of Washington, Notre Dame, New York University, and Ohio State University have heavily shifted their learning plans to adhere to the new guidelines and protect the community. There are also bans in most states on large gatherings and extended travel, but clearly some people believe they are immune to these regulations. The virus still has an effect on the younger groups, contrary to popular opinion.
Several U.S. universities are still unsure of what their semester plan is, and this is causing a lot of dismay from staff, students and parents alike. With everything so up in the air right now, it is hard to make any big moves. Study abroad trips are being cancelled, internships aborted, graduation ceremonies postponed, and a lot of excess stress added to each of our plates.
Let's hope that we can all work together to help make our community safer and more respectful, so that we may all return to our 'regular' sooner rather than later.
