This may be a slightly controversial opinion and one that I will definitely face backlash on, but all I had was one request from Phase 2 of the Re-Opening Plan, and even that wasn’t granted: to allow Hullett residence cross-visitation access to Jencks. The building to which we are connected! 

While I understand that the University is taking all the precautions necessary to keep us safe, I feel like the new changes and adjustments should allow sophomores and juniors more opportunities to socialize as well. With the progress that SLU has made, in terms of low COVID numbers and compliance from students, I believe that all students should’ve been taken into consideration during Phase 2 of the plan. First-years are allowed access into other buildings, as are theme houses and Greek Life houses, however, those residing in Dean Eaton, Sykes, Hullett, and Jencks are still confined to their own buildings. And while I love my family unit, seeing the same six people everyday is getting just a little tiresome. 

Those living in the suites in Hullett and Jencks are confined to their five-to-seven-person family units, instead of the large family units that those living other residence halls may have. And it can get a little isolating at times. 

It can also be extremely boring. My roommates and I spend aimless afternoons trying to find new things to do that we haven’t done already. And trying to figure out how to not get sick of one another. It’s gotten to the point where we get excited about our Saturday cleaning days because we have nothing else to do.

To make matters worse, Hullett and Jencks are also extremely far away from every other building on campus. During a brisk walk, it takes me as long as five minutes to walk to the Pub, a solid eight minutes to walk to Richardson, and it’s a decent 15-minute hike if I want to make it to the Athletics Center and lift a weight or two every once in a while.

I know, I know… I chose to live in the suites. I should’ve been prepared for the struggle. And it’s not the University’s fault that I get winded walking to the tennis courts. But I didn’t know at the time was that we were going to have smaller family units than others and that we were going to feel even more isolated than other years where we might’ve lived further from buildings on campus. 

With cross-residence already being allowed across campus and even between off-campus and on-campus housing, I just don’t understand why we cannot be granted access into a building with which we even share a door. All I want is to be able to walk over to Jencks, see a couple of people I know (with masks on, of course!), and maybe grab a snack from the vending machine. Something that doesn’t exist in Hullett.

Yes, that’s right! Hullett doesn’t have a vending machine, therefore, if I run out of snacks in my kitchen and it’s past the hours of midnight, I have the option of going to bed hungry or walking to the gas station and buying a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, because apparently that’s better than going right next door. As you can tell, I am probably more upset about not having access to the vending machine than anything else. 

At the end of the day, I understand that we can’t get everything we want in the middle of a pandemic and I am grateful for everything that SLU is doing to keep us safe, I just wish there was more clear reasoning behind allowing cross-residence visitation to everyone but those living in Dean Eaton, Sykes, Hullett and Jencks.