Adulting at Carleton: More than 6 Feet Apart

Our first email about coronavirus (COVID-19) sent out by the Dean of Students was on March 5.

Most appeared comfortable, especially because at the time the threat of the virus seemed distant as there weren’t any confirmed cases in Minnesota yet (the first case recorded on March 6). Even then, Carleton was trying to fight any chance of this virus making an appearance in Northfield. Largely by proliferating information involving basic hygienic practices.

As winter term was coming to an end, we increasingly grew more and more worried about our students who were abroad. At the time, Carls were studying in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain, and Myanmar. These programs continued to run, but the decision was made to allow any student who wished to return, to return.

Then, around March 10, Carleton began to cancel spring break and abroad programs in the U.S, France, Africa, the Arab world, Russia, Mexico, Japan, etc. Students were displaced, now the College was scrambling to accommodate the extra bodies on campus—those returning from abroad and those who are no longer able to go abroad. Plans to turn lounge spaces and prop rooms for tours into living quarters were initiated. Single rooms were to become doubles, doubles into potential triples, it even got to the point where we sought out faculty and staff members who were willing to host students. 

We never really reached that point since the college eventually decided that schooling was to be continued remotely, at least for the first four weeks. This meant the college was to extend the spring break housing application deadline in order to assist those with tricky housing circumstances due to airlines canceling trips, countries tightening their borders, hostile home environments, etc. All this was augmented when the college informed the community that those who leave campus, thus Northfield, would not be permitted to come back. This spurred some confusion especially since spring break was extended and the first four weeks of the new term would be organized online. Which left us questioning whether or not that meant we would be able to return to campus the second half of the term. As soon as break started, the college gave individuals an extra day to clear all their belongings if they were not approved to stay on campus. This fed the speculations involving the low odds of returning to campus come spring term, which further heightened emotions. Final goodbyes were said in anticipation that most would likely not see each other for a long while and slowly people began to clear out.

Everything happened pretty quickly. The confusion about returning to campus was relaxed as we gained more and more access to information. If COVID-19’s presence is pacified, we may return to campus the second half of spring-term. This decision gave lots hope and something to look forward to, while in others aroused even greater anxiety. The peak of this virus’s impact is predicted to be observed around mid-April in some parts of the country, while in others it is said to hit its hardest around May/June. Which begs the questions, is returning to campus right after the peak a good idea? What are the chances that we will even return to campus? My friends and I, at least, think those odds are low. But, you never really know for sure.

As the campus slowly began to look and feel more like a ghost town, things were definitely not quieter. Chatter surrounding pass/fail initiatives quickly gained momentum across the nation and so it did here at Carleton. To the best of my knowledge, this initiative was brought to our attention by a Carleton student and set into motion by Carleton’s Student Association. I’m sure the school was already considering all of the possible options concerning the grading system, especially since a lot of our “sister schools” (Stanford, UChicago, Harvard, etc) were considering or set to implement a [similar] structure. An email was sent out by our student body president on March 29th directing us to join an established moodle forum that included all the college’s affiliates (students, staff, and faculty) to provide feedback on the spring-term grading policy. The options that the Education and Curriculum Committee were considering and presented to us were:

1. relax the rules for students electing to take courses S/CR/NC and 
2. designate all courses for the term mandatory S/Cr/NC.  

Either option would definitely require further discussion and a vote by the full faculty-body. In this forum, we were able to post our thoughts, questions, and concerns about any merits or worries related to the two options presented. The threads were an interesting read, the campus appeared pretty divided, and many new options were derived by the students from those options presented. On April 3rd, an email was sent out by the Dean of the College informing us of our decision to translate the grading policy to a temporarily mandatory SCrNC (Scrunch, Credit, or No-Credit) grading system. This would only be active for the spring-term of 2020. This policy was also made compatible with those required courses needed to complete a major. 

Mid-March also marked the establishment of student projects designed to help provide financial relief for their peers. Student organizers put together a fundraising page to redistribute those funds to students who displayed financial need, provided that the college was not able to meet [specific] requests. The “COVID-19-FGLI Carleton Student Donations” has currently raised, as of April 3, 2020, $5,135/$100,000. From the information I have gathered, the funds exist and have been approved for distribution starting April 6, 2020. Students should also remember to look to the Dean of Students Office for immediate attention

April 4, 2020. Campus still looks and feels empty. I went to go pick up my iMac loaner the school has been providing to those who are technologically challenged, both on and off campus. The Classroom Support Manager at PEPS (Presentation, Events, and Production Support) has been called to help with getting iMacs to students.They gave us an iMac desktop, keyboard, mouse, power cable, JBL earbuds, and an instruction sheet. Everyone is trying their best. The new term is scheduled to begin in 10 hours and 38 minutes. 

Wash your hands, do your homework, stay in school, and don’t forget to keep it real.

#AdultingAtCarleton #CampusLife

Sagal is currently a 2nd-year student at Carleton, bringing with her an electric personality passionate about protecting the Somali waters. If you haven’t already met her, I’d say this should be on your bucket list! She currently lives in Minneapolis, MN and organizes for the Official Youth Caucus of the Minnesota DFL. She loves to dance, debate, and travel. She is formally studying Statistics but is also interested in History, Political Science, Public Policy, and Maritime/Admiralty Law. You should ask her about her research! ahmeds3@carleton.edu Meet the other bloggers!