Rejoice! We will be able to reunite with all of our fellow Laurentians. Well, maybe. Masked and socially distanced, of course. On June 16^th, Student Life and Academic Affairs gave us an update as to what the future of SLU may look like under COVID-19 this upcoming fall semester. The short answer: there is no short answer. Yet.  

And that’s what’s expected during these “unprecedented,” “tumultuous,” “historical,” and “strange,” times (did I nail all the adjectives from the emails? Hope so). There’s a whole bunch of a chaos and not a lot of answers.  We’re throwing ourselves into the unknown with variables that come to light every week which may or may not weigh heavily on the decision on whether or not to allow nearly 2,500 students back on campus. 

In the email, we received a lot of possibilities- we intend to go back (ideal), if we are to go back many safety precautions will be put in place (and hopefully extremely enforced – ideal), if we return, not every course will look the same. But, with the optimist in me, here’s what will happen if we can go back:  

• Students’ arrivals will be phased in before the first day of classes. Probably more like our move-out process, so that only a few people are moving into the same residential hall at once. It will cut out a lot of traffic and sweat, a plus.  
• More health and safety precautions will be taken. Masks will most likely be a requirement, but the mention of it in the email is vague. 
• Hybrid courses: depending on the classes being taken, some may be half online and half in person. Some may be all online. Some may be all in person. We don’t know the exact circumstances in which each will be implemented, but we also don’t know what that nasty coronavirus plans on doing during the semester.  
• Updates will come as available, as we’re used to at this point, but the SLU Fall 2020 semester as of now is still slated to be August 26^th, 2020.  
• All Fall 2020 off-campus study abroad programs are cancelled. I am truly sorry to anyone who’s been affected by that announcement, and I hope you are able to reapply for a different semester or have an experience like that soon – I know a lot of you were looking forward to it more than anything.  

There’s a lot not being said and not being detailed upon, but it’s important to keep in mind just how up in the air everything is right now. While it may seem that we are on the downfall of this first outbreak, that doesn’t mean another wave won’t come out of it, or that no one is getting infected. How can you help give us a better chance of going back? It doesn’t give guarantee, but it would definitely help for you to not do any unnecessary travel, to wear masks when near many folks, and hey – maybe that basement party in your hometown can wait.  

The University wants to open communication channels, making sure that everyone is properly advised but can also reach out for discussion or concerns. They said they want to keep discussion going, whether that be from surveys to any open platforms for conversations that may present themselves. The updates we will need to worry about most will be the ones closest to that August 26^th date, when there will be a clearer image as to what a COVID-19  adapted education will really look like. And to that extent, that will all be under the control of what the state says and mandates. President Fox didn’t close the school, COVID-19 and Cuomo did, and rightfully so. So if there are new threats on the horizon we are at the mercy of NYS, who will guide the school on what the next best steps will be.  

I wish there were more answers. As a student (and a holed-up person in general the past few months), it is understandable to be frustrated with vague updates, and the possibility of false hopes being lifted. I too am frustrated at opportunities lost and being away from a community that felt like home and family. It is out of our control, and most of the higher ups’ control too, and I hope that we can agree that safety should continue to be the most influential and important factor in this. I would hate to see a semester of sick friends. 

 So keep your eyes open for more updates, don’t hesitate to raise your concerns (there’s this cool platform for student voices to be amplified, it’s called The Hill News), and above all, keep taking care of yourselves. I hope to see you all on August 26^th in the flesh.