The Castleton Way Isn’t Canceled In late-February, life at Castleton University was by all means normal. Theater students were practicing for the spring musical, spring sports teams were preparing for the season ahead, reporters and editors for The Spartan were excited for their annual conference in New York City, and Commencement planning was well underway. Within a matter of days, Coronavirus upended life at Castleton. When reports of isolated cases of COVID-19 began in our country, University officials promptly began making arrangements for students studying abroad to return home. They asked faculty to bolster their use of Canvas, our online learning software, in the unlikely event an alternative academic delivery method was necessary. By mid-March, the Vermont State Colleges System leadership made the difficult decision to transition courses to online learning, with the hope of students returning to campus after spring break in April. For the safety of the entire community, Castleton canceled or postponed all on-campus events, encouraged employees to work from home, and students were told they would not be coming back to campus this spring, except to collect their belongings. Students experienced a variety of emotions upon learning that their time at Castleton was being cut short, especially seniors whose Commencement ceremony was postponed to next spring. 4
CASTLETON UNIVERSITY
The Castleton family has found unique ways to come together and support one another from afar. Even when many miles apart, The Castleton Way shines through. When you ask students what The Castleton Way is, you’ll likely hear the two most tangible examples: holding the door for others and the smiles you see on people’s faces as you walk across campus. These two basic, yet meaningful, acts are small pieces of a bigger idea. At its core, The Castleton Way is the love we have for the University and one another. It’s the way we miss moonlit walks from the library after a long night of studying. It’s remembering the times you’ve sat in a professor’s office and knowing that you’ve never been just a number to them. It’s the staff at Coffee Cottage or Fireside getting your order ready when you walk in because they know your order by heart. It’s the laughs you share with friends who are more like family and all of the memories you’ve made along the way. In these unprecedented times, The Castleton Way is how we miss each other. It’s the way we’re using technology like Zoom and FaceTime to remain connected. It’s the way that our faculty are holding virtual open office hours for students who just want to check in and chat. It’s the way our Wellness Center is finding innovative ways to meaningfully connect with students who are struggling during this time. It’s the way we look forward to the time we’ll be together again.
