APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Some Lawrence University students are now back on campus. This, weeks after many other universities have welcomed back their students.
Lawrence students are all moved in, but classes won’t start until Monday, which is why the campus looked a bit emptier than usual Friday. But, university officials did say starting later has allowed them to see what has worked for others and what hasn’t.
Starting school a little later than most colleges is nothing new for Lawrence University. But doing so during a pandemic is.
“We’re all so lucky starting later, as we have had the chance to see what’s happened and to learn,” said assistant to the president at Lawrence Christyn Abaray.
One thing Lawrence has seen happen – off-campus parties, leading to coronavirus outbreaks.
Abaray says, watching how other universities have handled reopening has possibly given Lawrence a leg-up.
“Preventing, I think, is not possible. For us, we’re all about mitigating risk and, as an educational institution, using the educational platform to do that,” she said. “We’re letting folks know you are in control of decisions that you make; be mindful of the decisions that you make and influence they have on those around you.”
That message seems to be paying off for students, like Lawrence junior Eder Bellegarde, who is from Georgia.
“Not everyone has the same opportunities, so it’s just kind of selfish for them to, you know, go out and have fun, because like, you might be able to go back home and everything’s fine, but for other kids, you know, they’re struggling to get WIFI, running water, power…so it’s a little scary, yeah,” he said.
Lawrence junior Cameron Wicks is from Florida. He says being back on-campus feels like he’s among family. Wicks just hopes it will stay that way, by his peers acting responsibly.
“Everybody just has to think about others,” he said. “This is a time for not being selfish and being understanding that it’s bigger than you.”
Like many other universities, Abaray says Lawrence requires testing.
“We tested everybody, upon arrival on-campus, plan to test two weeks after that to make sure we’re capturing everybody that is joining us and is returning to us, and then we’re going to have weekly surveillance testing,” she said.
Beyond that, the school also requires students and staff to get their flu shots and complete a daily screening of temperature and symptoms. And students don’t seem to have any issues with that.
“As long as I can stay here and enjoy the college scenery; the views, I’m okay with it,” Bellegarde said.
Other students say, the way the school is handling students’ return, amid the pandemic, makes them feel safe and protected.
“I think our campus is doing a great job with that and keeping like a little bubble, just like the NBA Playoffs, where everybody just follows the rules and stays safe,” Wicks said.
Abaray says the university’s size may play a huge factor in its having a possibly more effective reopening.
“Our ‘in’ – our size allows for us to really be able to open, and probably be more successful than others,” she said.
While Lawrence University may have picked up a thing or two from other schools’ experiences, university leaders say schools and everyone, really, are all in this together and just learning as we go.
