Will We Stay?

Wellness Station

Covid has caused so many new rules and regulations to be put in place on campus. However, as a first-year, it is weird for me to think of campus in any other way. The big question floating around is "will we get to stay on campus for the full semester?". I wish I could answer this, but my guess is as good as yours. I believe that we have a good chance of being able to stay on campus for the full semester. I think this because the University of Kentucky has put in place may guidelines to keep everyone safe. They have social distancing everywhere, require masks all over campus, and have taken many other precautions such as moving some classes and activities online. They have signs everywhere reminding you to follow the rules and to take steps of your own such as frequently washing your hands, avoiding crowds, and staying out of enclosed spaces when possible. The university has also placed wellness stations around campus to help provide students with things they may need, such as masks, wipes, and hand sanitizers. UK has been doing constant testing to help watch numbers. Originally everyone was tested; then Greek life was re-tested. I am not sure who they plan on testing next, but the university does provide free testing for anyone who wants it, so if someone is feeling ill, they have an easy and accessible way to get tested. One of the main things that I believe will help keep us on campus is that the students seem to really want to stay. People are being extra cautious because they do not want to become quarantined or to have everyone sent home. Here is a video of Coach Calipari encouraging everyone to be safe:

(click on picture for link)

    Even with all of these positives, I still cannot say that I am sure that we will get to stay. It is hard to be completely optimistic when I am talking to my friends at other universities with rising numbers. One of my close friends attends Indiana University where all of there Greek life was shutdown because of the amount of Covid in their houses. I fear that one bad weekend could cause an issue like this for us. Another school my friends are at that is struggling is the University of Dayton. Their number of cases is so high that they have been on a level 4 lock-down, and the university is threatening to send them all home.