Like many other institutions and companies across the United States, colleges opening their doors are now experiencing the adverse effects of COVID- 19. Colleges opening back up several schools, faculty, students and the surrounding college communities have faced several challenges.
As universities open up, the testing of COVID- 19 has been increased. Unfortunately there is no standardized testings for schools across the country, according to The Washington Post. Therefore, the testing results that schools report individually cannot be compared to other schools across the country. A New York Times survey found among 1,600 universities in the U.S. reported about 36,000 cases of the Coronavirus which makes the total 88,00 cases on those campuses since the pandemic happened.
The New York Times warns that this increase of cases may be a result of increased testing, and that not all of the cases are new.
Faculty at the several campuses across the nation have had to make several changes in how to operate the school year. The New York Times reported that Coronavirus tests can cost up to 100 dollars a person, so institutions that would like to reopen need funding in order to do so. Schools have been suffering financially since March and now need students to return in order to survive, so they are doing as much as possible in order for campus to be safe for students to return.
Morgan Montminy, a junior, believes that SLU has been taking preventative measures in order to ensure a safe place for students to return. “I think SLU has done an excellent job in containing COVID cases on campus. By mandating testing before arriving on campus, SLU was able to keep the amount of cases to a minimum,” Montminy said.
However, students at SLU believe that there could still be more done in order to limit the spread of the virus. Madison Robb, a junior, stated that “SLU has managed to contain covid cases pretty well, mostly due to the Laurentian Pact clearly outlining what students can and cannot do. I think that the school now needs to be holding the student body more accountable when the Laurentian Pact is broken. “
In addition to the coronavirus impacting faculty, staff and students it has the potential of harming the sometimes small towns in which campuses are located. In an article from NPR a senior from a small college in Kansas stated that “The community supports the college. The college supports the community.” This sentiment is shared with both Robb and Montminy. “Canton is definitely a college town and I think many stores and events are benefitting from having students on campus. Especially with Canton being a small town with many local businesses, SLU students are happy to be back and purchasing take-out or going thrift shopping,” Montminy emphasized.
As soon as colleges have begun opening up, some have also begun shutting down in-person classes. According to The New York Times, SUNY Oneonta had to send students home because of rising Coronavirus cases. Montminy believes “Many people want to have a normal college experience, and unfortunately, that cannot happen. We can try our best to follow the guidelines and still have a college experience.”
Robb worries that SLU could be one of the campuses to close down because of the lack of concern some classes have for the spread of the coronavirus. “The only class that seems to be struggling to grasp the concept of the Laurentian Pact are the First-Years. They continually break the pact gathering in large groups on the quad and golf course without masks, with no repercussions.”
Montminy also agrees, “If something happens and we also have an uptick in cases, we could be shut down and students may not be able to experience their last semesters on campus.”
Despite the issues that SLU may be having with the Laurentian Pact, Montminy and Robb offer advice to students navigating these uncertain times. “Enjoy and take advantage of new opportunities that you probably wouldn’t do if it was a normal semester. Go for a sunrise hike or canoeing with friends.”