10 minute read
What Will the Fall Semester Look Like?
How Will the Fall Semester Look for Students on Campus?
Chloe Reid Reporter
Advertisement
With the increase in vaccine distribution nationwide and a seemingly lower amount of cases in the past few weeks in most states, the start of going back to better times seems right around the corner. With this news, along with several other colleges nationally, Idaho State University has announced that the college will be planning to return back to in-person instruction for the Fall 2021 semester. In an announcement sent out by president Kevin Satterlee, by the start of the upcoming semester, students should be able to look forward to in-person classes once again, compared to the most recent method of virtual classes through software such as Zoom.
“I welcome and applaud the news about vaccine distribution. This development will allow us to safely transition back to inperson learning, to provide the full college experience students want and expect, and to celebrate the campus traditions and activities that bring us closer as a Bengal community,” Satterlee said in a statement.
However, this changed semester will still involve facial coverings, social distancing, screenings and avoidance of large social gatherings, according to the ISU website. With such precautions having been taken for the past year, many of the students of Idaho State have been anxiously awaiting the day of campus reopening.
So in the eyes of a student, what would an optimal Fall 2021 semester look like?
Is the simply stated re-opening of inperson instruction enough to qualify as an improvement? Or do students feel the desire for more to maximize the past standard normalcy of everyday campus life with the new distribution of vaccines?
“I think that we can be hopeful that everything will be in person, maskless, and we will be able to have events and gatherings. With several different vaccines rolling out and the hope that every adult will be eligible to be vaccinated soon, it brings a sense of hopefulness that we haven’t felt in a while,” said ISU sophomore and health professions major, Brandon Gomez.
“I’d like to see social distancing staying around until we’re sure that the virus isn’t as big of a threat anymore, but personally, I feel “normal” is achieved with what I previously described.” Currently, vaccines are planned to be ready for distribution to everyone in May of 2021. In a statement by President Satterlee according to the ISU website, statewide updates from the State of Idaho indicate that there will be enough vaccines to be able to reach the entire campus community in a couple of months, giving access to allow for a more personal 2021 experience. On a website hosted by the State of Idaho, the general population is now eligible to pre-register to acquire a vaccine. While incorporating in-person classes again is a step to going back to the traditional route, it could be a long time before students actually experience the pre-2020 college life.
In a virtual meeting, members of the Bengal community such as ASISU president-elect, Zane Webb, discussed hopefulness in returning back to the onceloved clubs and traditions at Idaho State as soon as possible. However, even with such hopefulness, it’s hard to determine the exact time semesters will start looking to be fully open in operation for students. While some scientists nod to experiencing at least two more years of the pandemic due to current vaccine and infection statistics, the true time of the pandemic’s end is still an unknown variable to the general population. In the midst of all this, questions still persist in regards to reopening campus for in-person instruction.
If in-person instruction is resumed, but all other safety precautions such as social distancing and limited gatherings, how will the student population correctly fit into classrooms that are at limited capacity?
The president has not yet reached out in response.
So in terms of what we can be certain of, Fall 2021 for incoming and returning students will provide a bit of a relief in terms of human interaction. With classes reopening, students will have access to the original methods of communication and learning that have been put on pause for the past 12 months. In-person learning is one step on the path towards reaching the once completely open campus, and in giving the incoming future classes a better start at their college experience. That being said, every other part of the college experience will remain to stay on pause until further notice. Whether that be a time period of two years or six months, college students should prepare to face another period of uncertainty in regards to participating in past traditions. However, as a Bengal community, we are together no matter the circumstances, even from a distance of 6 feet apart.
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State University
ISU Football Team Takes Another Loss at Holt, Heading To UC Davis
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics Trevor Delaney Sports Editor
The Idaho State University football team took on Eastern Washington University for its second home game of the season at Holt Arena in Pocatello on Saturday, Mar. 13, with ISU taking a loss with a final score of 42-46. Previously the Bengals lost their first game of the season, also a home game, against the Weber State Wildcats on Saturday, February 27 under the familiar lights of the Holt Arena. In the second game of the season, ISU beat the Southern Utah University Thunderbirds when they played in Cedar City on Saturday, Mar. 6, with a final winning score of 26-24.
In conjunction with Mountain America Credit Union’s sponsorship of this weekend’s ISU football game against UC Davis, Idaho State Athletics and Mountain America Credit Union are giving away a team-autographed Idaho State football helmet. To enter to win the helmet signed by ISU’s football players, fill out the game week giveaway form on the ISU Athletics website at isubengals.com/giveaway.
With their next game coming up at UC Davis at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 27 in Davis, the Bengals head out to California with the season still anyone’s for the taking. As things sit now, Idaho State has a 1-2 score for the season in both overall and Big Sky play. The Bengals have three games left this season to make up for their previous two losses, with a chance to add to the single season victory so far. The last chance for ISU football fans to catch a home game at the Holt Arena this season will be on Saturday, April 3 at 4 p.m., with the Bengals playing their northern rivals, the University of Idaho Vandals. The Bengals will finish out the Big Sky season against Weber State, taking on the Wildcats for the second time this season.
ISU Soccer Team Loses Back to Back Games Against Northern Colorado
Trevor Delaney Sports Editor
The Idaho State University women’s soccer team lost its first two matches of the Big Sky Season when they took on Northern Colorado in back to back games on Friday and Sunday at the Idaho Central Credit Union Practice Field in Pocatello. In their opening match of the season on Friday, March 19, the Bengals lost to Northern Colorado with a final score for the match of 0-2.
Remarking on Friday’s match, Coach Debs Brereton said, “Overall I think the result doesn’t reflect the performance our team gave. I felt as the game progressed we turned ourselves around and from taking an early loss we recovered very well.”
Coach Brereton continued saying, “I think this is a huge learning curve, we’ve got a really young team and they have never experienced the Big Sky game before. I think if anything they now understand that the game is never completely out of our reach and if we can start on Sunday the way we ended today I think it could be a very different result.”
Then on Sunday, Mar. 21, the Idaho State Bengals came back out to play the Northern Colorado Bears, with another loss by ISU and a final score of 0-1. After Sunday’s game was over with, Brereton commented, “I thought the players executed the game plan brilliantly. We asked them to try and match the intensity and focus they had in the second half of the last game and they did just that. To put together a complete performance like that is something we’ve been working on and hoping for, for quite some time. We created more chances today I thought we look way more dangerous going forward, but it’s just not quite there for us in the box.”
“Overall I am so proud of the players for applying themselves maximally and for the seniors as well. Every senior on the pitch was playing her heart out and I appreciate it so much,” said Brereton.
The Bengals will play again at 1 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 26, when they go up against Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, with another back to back game at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 28 against Northern Arizona. These first two losses put Idaho State at 0-2 for Big Sky play and 0-3 in overall season play.
ISU Men’s Tennis Team Wins 5-2 Against Montana State
Trevor Delaney Sports Editor
After facing a tough season so far, the Idaho State University men’s tennis team won its match against Montana State University. They played in Reed Gym in Pocatello on Saturday, March 20, with a final match score of 5-2.
Following Saturday’s win, Idaho State Coach Alexander Free said, “I am really proud of the way the team competed today. This was the signature win that we needed as a team. We played these guys in February and they got the best of us, but we always preached wanting to be the best team in April and at the end of the season.”
After guaranteeing the doubles point for Idaho State after winning their #1 Doubles and #3 Doubles games, the Bengals went on to win #1 Singles, #2 Singles, #4 Singles, and their #6 Singles. Montana State managed to pick up two singles points, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Bengals in their home gym.
“I think this is a big step in the right direction in the process,” said Free. “We’re going to celebrate this one for a day, and then look ahead to a week-long trip in Arizona where we play three really solid teams and our first conference opponent.”
This win puts Idaho State at 3-8 for their overall season, with the Big Sky season play beginning on Friday, Mar. 26. The Bengals will play next in Phoenix, Arizona against Grand Canyon University on Tuesday, March 23, followed by Arizona State University on Wednesday, Mar. 24 in Tempe, Arizona.
ISU Takes Single Win in Grand Canyon Softball Tournament, Four Losses
Trevor Delaney Sports Editor
The Idaho State Softball team took a win in its first game this past weekend playing in the Grand Canyon Softball Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona, which started on Friday, March 19 and went through Sunday, Mar. 21. The Bengals won their first game of the tournament against New Mexico State on Friday, finishing out the game with a close score of 1312. The Bengals then took on the Grand Canyon University team in their second tournament game on Friday afternoon taking a loss with a final score of 5-13.
The next afternoon on Saturday, Mar. 20, Idaho State once again faced off against New Mexico State, this time with ISU losing to New Mexico 2-15. Then at 6 p.m. on Saturday, the Bengals played Grand Canyon University in their fourth tournament game and took a loss with a final score of 4-5 for the Saturday evening game.
Finally on Sunday, Idaho State played New Mexico State once more in their fifth and final game of the tournament, with ISU losing with a score of 1-9. This put ISU at a 1-4 record for the Grand Canyon Tournament. With the win in the first game of the tournament, this puts ISU up to an overall season score of 6-10. With the Big Sky Softball season officially gearing up this weekend, the Bengals will take on the Weber State Wildcats on Weber State’s home turf in Ogden, Utah on Friday, Mar. 26 and Saturday, Mar. 27.
Photo Courtesy of Idaho State Athletics
