Pictured Above: “I think people need to embrace the fact that the old normal is gone and we are currently creating a new normal,” Byron Miller, an associate professor of sociology, said in regards to USF St. Petersburg reopening in the fall.
Cassidy Schuck | The Crow’s Nest
By Cassidy Schuck
When the state’s public universities reopen in August, some USF St. Petersburg students and faculty will be walking on eggshells.
“I am worried there is going to be another spike (in COVID-19 cases) and the school is going to have to close again,” said Samantha D’Angelo, a sophomore biology major.
Olivia Gonzalez, a junior mass communications major, had her reservations.
“I am concerned because there are alot of people who aren’t taking social distancing or this situation seriously,” Gonzalez said. “When we do go back, I definitely agree with there being restrictions and boundaries being places;, therefore we can at least resume how things were but not quite.”
But others seem eager to get back to campus as long as proper guidelines and restrictions are in place.
“I think it is a good idea to reopen the campuses in the fall, as long as it is done in a safe way,” said Natalie Myers, a sophomore history major. “It will bring some normalcy back to our lives and make people feel better to know that things are going in a positive direction.”
USF President Steven Currall echosed those sentiments in a May 27 coronavirus update.
“When we determine it’s appropriate to proceed with phasing in more on-campus operations, you can expect there will be modifications and precautions in place to promote health and safety, such as requiring face coverings, limiting the number of individuals gathered in any one area, and enhancing cleaning protocols,” Currall said.
Senior psychology major Meghan Coote’s said her main concern was housing and the fact that students will be sharing common areas like kitchens, dining halls, washers and dryers, classrooms and bathrooms.
“I want to go back and see my friends, but not at the risk of all of our health,” Coote said.
Some students, like junior education major Brianna Ortiz, are so concerned that they are considering moving off campus altogether.
“USF leadership is in the process of creating a thoughtful and deliberate phased-in plan for resuming operations that prioritizes the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff,” said Susan Kimbrough, director of Housing and Residential Education, in an email to The Crow’s Nest.
Transfer students like James Erickson, a junior marine biology major from Green Bay, Wisconsin, are especially eager for the campus to reopen.
“I have spent a lot of money to transfer to USFSP, and I actually want to go there and attend on-campus classes,” Erickson said. “If the campus doesn’t reopen, then what is the point of me even going to school there when I would go somewhere closer to home and save money?”
It is not just the students who have mixed emotions.
Faculty and staff want to get back to in-person teaching, but some say staying remote seems like the safer option.
“As a faculty member I am electing to teach my classes online,” said Shelly Wagers, an assistant professor of criminology. “It allows me to offer an equal education to all my students and keep us all safe. Plus my courses and subjects can be taught online.”
Byron Miller, an assistant professor of sociology, addressed the longer-term impacts of COVID-19.
“I think people need to embrace the fact that the old normal is gone and we are currently creating a new normal,” he said.
Sophie Ojdanic contributed to this report.
I think that with the proper precautions in place the campus should reopened in fall. There are continuous updates about how someone can catch the virus so if we are mindful and practice some social distancing then we should be fine.Students are paying for an on-campus experience and some science subjects require students to be on campus. Also, for those who do not want to go on campus why not just give them the option to do the courses online? The school can set up cameras in each on campus class for those students who want to stay home. That way they are also in the class real time. In one of the earlier posts someone said that they paid a lot of money to be able to transfer to USFSP so if they are to do online classes why not just go somewhere closer. What would make USFSP different enough to entice students to stay…just to do online classes? Concluding, those who want to stay home should and those who want to go on campus should be given the opportunity to.