Striking back
What are those?
Bricks are back
PERSPECTIVES
COMMUNITY
SPORTS
Hot take on the ‘Star Wars’ saga
The
@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Friday, March 19, 2021
Self-proclaimed frat enters the stage
Football returns tonight at 7 p.m.
Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
Vol. 106, No. 17
What a year it has been
March 8, 2020: CPAC Exposure
“33 students have been asked to remain home for one additional week”
March 13, 2020: The Grove Option
“The option to stay on campus or return home is a decision for students and their families to make based on health and safety considerations.”
March 16, 2020: Evacuation
“It will be necessary for all students to depart campus as soon as arrangements can be made.”
March 28, 2020: First Community Case
“We learned today that an employee whose office is in the Carnegie Alumni center has tested positive for COVID-19.”
May 11, 2020: Fall Return Planning Committee
“Our goal is to establish a safe learning and living environment for students and employees in compliance with government directives and relevant guidance”
July 23, 2020: Fall Precautions
Pre-arrival screening and testing through Quest Diagnostics. “The move-in process will be staggered to reduce traffic flow. To reinforce this shared responsibility, you will be required to sign a “Community Agreement” prior to arriving on campus.”
Aug. 5, 2020:
Fall 2020 Health and Safety Plan released
Aug. 28, 2020: Fall ‘20 Start
MATT SCHOONOVER
Sophomore Jacob Shirk, a Hawaii resident, stayed on campus after the COVID-19 exodus in March 2020 due to travel restrictions hindering his return home. “At one point they disabled my student ID for some reason. I reached out to people to get it reenabled, but never heard back. For the last two weeks or so of finals, I had to come and go through an unlocked first floor window in Memorial,” he said.
College reflects on pandemic Collegian Staff
This week marks one year since Grove City College classes were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many students can remember the email received from President Paul J. McNulty ’80 on March 16 notifying students to “depart campus as soon as arrangements can be made.” An email from Student Life and Learning followed shortly, writing that “recent developments beyond our control have necessitated this change” and “all undergraduates who are able to return to their homes during this period must now do so.” In a whirlwind week, students packed up, and campus was deserted. A year later, the college reflects on the first of the unprecedented times that rocked the Grove. “I remember saying goodbye to senior friends, knowing in the back of my mind that I might not see them again, but also hesitant to truly be-
lieve it,” junior Lauren Ness said. “I was hopeful of our return to campus once things settled down. But the two weeks continued into three and four, then ultimately the remainder of the semester.” Transitioning from physical instruction to online learning was a huge leap for the college one year ago. McNulty was “extremely thankful for the way the employees of the college stepped up to take on this challenge.” “Every facet of our work was impacted, and there has been a tremendous amount of personal sacrifice, flexibility and creativity involved in addressing a mountain of issues,” McNulty said. “We have also learned that doing online learning well requires significant investment, which we will continue to make.” Adjunct professor of Communication & Visual Arts Tricia Pritchard recounted her experience last year learning how to teach online for the first time in her career. She said she “was terrified.”
Though she recognized the many benefits of online education, in-person education will always hold a special place in her heart. Professor of political science Dr. Michael Coulter noted that transitioning to Teams instruction was an adjustment. “I’m glad it was synchronous because the class schedule gave some normalcy to the days. But ‘Zoom fatigue’ is real. In the classroom professors react to students - both the verbal and non-verbal communication. After March and April, you realize how much you need everyone in a classroom,” Coulter said. “I lamented the sudden change for students yet agreed with the college’s decision,” resident director of Colonial Hall Apartments Liz Jose ’10 said. With Hopeman residents moved out, its resident director Bennett Potter called campus “cold and empty.” REFLECTION 9
“In such a time as this, it is even more difficult to be the peaceable community we desire and are called to be. We must be a place where, in the vigorous pursuit of truth, we can think deeply, care passionately, and discuss respectfully.”
Oct. 9, 2020:
First uptick and stricter regulations.
Nov. 9, 2020: Transition
“Herculean efforts are being made to limit the spread as more and more students are placed in quarantine or selfisolation... You may depart campus at any point between now and the 24th and switch to online classes.”
Jan. 5, 2021: Spring Precautions
“Prior to physically returning to campus, all studetns must be tested for COVID-19 and provide the College with documentation of a negative PCR COVID-19 test.”
Jan. 18, 2021: Upon the Return
“If we do not begin this new semester with a firm determination to start healthy and stay healthy, we could be in a very difficult spot in just a few weeks.”
Feb. 6, 2021: The Email
“If we don’t do a much better job with social distancing very quickly, we will be forced into some unwelcome choices.”