When COVID-19 began to hit Columbus, and Ohio as a whole Ohio State was just beginning spring break. I spent the first week on an unofficial quarantine because my roommates had gone home, and I was working. Now, we're a little over a month into our Stay at Home order, and campus is still just as abandoned as it was over spring break. I took a walk around campus to see what the vibe was, and one thing's for sure, things are different.
Campus is truly a ghost town
Obviously, with the dorms and buildings closed on campus, there are significantly less people around than normal. But even off-campus, people have decided to move back home. Columbus doesn't normally look so empty, but without the students, the area around campus looks like it does on a long weekend. A month later, it's still weird to know that there's basically no one around.
The dogs are enjoying the Oval
Whoever designed a large green space in the center of campus was prepared for a time like this. Not only is it nice to walk through, the best part is that it's the only part of campus that isn't closed, so the dogs have the run of the place. The Oval Beach is alive and well during quarantine, but so is the Oval Dog Park.
Thank God the Olentangy Trail is so close to campus
If walking around campus makes you sad, and you want more nature and fewer buildings, the Olentangy Trail is the most convenient place to walk. Luckily it's right by campus, so you don't have to go too far.
Seeing kids on campus finally doesn't feel weird
When I was walking around campus, I expected to see no one. And with there being less college students, seeing children playing on the Oval wasn't weird, it was actually nice to see someone enjoying the campus with so many people gone.
People are either taking this super seriously, or not seriously enough
The Columbus Police made a statement that they would be assessing fines for people having parties, which shows that some people aren't social distancing at all. But when you go outside, you see plenty of people keeping their distance, and wearing masks. The general vibe around campus is that some people really care, and some just don't.
Now is the time to take the Long Walk
One of OSU's longest-held traditions is that if you walk across the Oval with your sweetheart, started at the east end and going to the library, and if no one crosses your path, you're meant to be. Every time I walked through the Oval, I've tried to figure out how you're supposed to complete the way across campus with no one crossing your path. Now's the time for it, with less people out and about, it's easiest to do now and not have to worry about people crossing your path.
The animals (and construction) are ruling campus
Two of the most common things on campus are construction, and animals that aren't scared of people. When you haven't walked around campus in a while, the construction has grown a lot, and there are more animals than ever. One of the things that I never expected to see was geese on High Street, but with everyone in their houses, the animals around campus are getting more and more brave.
It's never been easier to get around campus
Normally, you have to deal with walking behind someone slow, or have to wait to cross the street because of cars, and buses. With there being so many people not driving around campus, it's a lot easier to get around, and even avoiding people wasn't that difficult.
I feel like I'm taking a final lap instead of a walk
I don't think I've ever walked around campus just to walk around. Normally I have someplace I'm trying to go, and at a certain time. Just walking around, with nowhere really to go, I'm thinking about all of the different things that happened in various spots around campus. Walking through the park is just a walk, this was a stroll down memory lane.
I'm so glad I picked OSU
I'm so glad that I'm in the apartment I am this year, and that I'm on a campus like OSU. If things were different, and the campus wasn't so large and beautiful, it would be less fun to walk around, and my quarantine would look completely different.
