By Theo Klinger, Contributing Writer
During what seems to be a never-ending pandemic, Susquehanna staff decided that a phased move-in is the best way to keep everyone safe as students move back onto campus..
With the news of cases rising on Bucknell’s campus, I am sure most students are worried that our campus will follow suit and lead to campus shutting down and reverting entirely to remote instruction.
Personally, I think that the difference with the move-in will make no difference when it comes to classes. Most students do not follow the instructions when it comes to going up and down the stairs and using elevators or try to find ways around the safety procedures. Last semester we had to schedule a time to move in that was completely different from others around us, and although we had no problem moving in and distancing from each other, it doesn’t change the fact that students break the rules while in academic buildings throughout the semester. All students want their lives to return to normal, and after many months of quarantine they are willing to test the limits by inviting people over despite the rules.
The phased move-in process makes it harder to immediately begin inviting people over, but it does not stop the problems from last semester from resurfacing if students ignore the rules. Students will crowd into dining areas during breaks and travel together in small groups moving from building to building. Most of these problems are unavoidable for the students. The order-out option for the Hawk’s Nest was a good idea at first, but quickly resulted in people crowding around each other as they waited for their food. Students having to touch multiple paper bags to find their own does not limit contact.
With students beginning to move back to campus, I hope that this semester is completely safe for everyone without any red lights popping up in the coming months. Being one of the students remaining remote for the semester, I am rooting for everyone to follow the rules and make our campus one of the safest to attend despite any problems that arise in the world. Our campus will only continue to function throughout this pandemic if we work together. Stay safe, wear your mask and be sure to always follow the rules.