Students adjust to COVID-19 protocols
Signs posted all around campus remind the community how to maintain COVID-19 protocol. Photo courtesy of Marisa Karpes.
A brisk walk around campus reveals significant changes to the daily lives of students as Elmhurst University adjusts to COVID-19 protocols. A few of the newest additions include social distancing stickers, temperature stations, and sanitation carts with mask supplies located all over campus.
Since implementing the changes to keep campus safe amidst COVID-19, some students are satisfied with the school's efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus.
“I think attending school during COVID is definitely scary at first. However, I think that
Elmhurst is doing a great job handling it,” said Morgan Collar, first year student. “I definitely feel safe on campus, especially when I see all the sanitation stations throughout the buildings,” Collar said.
To ensure that students and staff remain safe and the college stays open, co-chair of the COVID-19 Task Force Phil Riordan stressed the importance of adhering to university regulations such as keeping socially distanced in public areas and the mask mandate for students and faculty on campus.
Riordan outlined the initiatives being taken by the university to limit the transmission
of the virus.
“Testing over 1,100 students, faculty, and staff demonstrated our commitment to a
healthy campus environment. We had a total of 5 positive cases out of the 1,000 tests administered,” explained Riordan.
“I believe the entire Elmhurst University community worked extremely hard over the
summer making sure we placed the health and safety of all our students, faculty, and staff as priority number one,” Riordan said.
Students and staff are learning how to continue with online learning through Zoom or Blackboard Collaborate, since the abrupt shift last spring.
“Online schooling is definitely a big change, and personally, being a graphic design major and not being in person has been an adjustment,” said sophomore Hannah Horn. “I like being in a hands-on environment, so online schooling has definitely been a change of pace for me.”
As a precautionary measure, sports and other extracurricular activities at EU have also been postponed until further notice.
“After hearing that my season was postponed I was certainly bummed. I was looking forward to representing Elmhurst in blue this fall,” said Gretta Inskeep, women’s cross country runner. “However, I saw it as a way to train in preparation for next season. I’m excited to see what our team can do when we get to lace up our shoes and race again.”
