A recent email release from the Office of the President on Oct. 8 entailed Albion College’s plan to more aggressively enforce current regulations. As COVID-19 continues to thrive, there is growing tension and mental health issues on campus and nationwide. Albion College students and faculty, along with the rest of the country, have been left without answers about a clear path to a COVID-19 vaccine.
According to several studies from around the country, the road to the vaccine might be difficult due to lack of communication and abundance of controversy surrounding key vaccine experts.
In addition to efforts to find ways to fix and prepare a better research team for the vaccine, the public has mixed feelings on how the Trump administration is handling COVID-19.This past Tuesday, The New York Times released an article citing President Trump and his administration’s recent block to New FDA Coronavirus Vaccine Standards.
According to The Slate, a daily online news publication, there would be no possible way that a vaccine could be released before Election Day next month due to tougher guidelines from the White House.
As the world awaits the vaccine, Albion students have some of their own thoughts.
Students are living through a period of their lives that they will never forget. Albion is attempting to help students on campus find their ways through this life-changing semester as people continue to find out new details on the hunt for the coronavirus vaccine. This wait for a vaccine can definitely have a mental toll it has on students, but Albion is doing what it can to ease the burden of the unknowns.
On campus, Grace Forster, a senior from Holland, said that students can help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by following all of the college’s regulations.
“Albion students can help stop the potential spread of COVID by following the guidelines and encouraging their friends to do the same,” said Forster. “Albion has been helpful by providing students with clear guidelines and testing.”
Hala Yazdani, a senior from Farmington Hills, highlighted Albion’s dedication to staying during this difficult time.
“I am grateful to Albion for taking preventative measures and purposefully striving to stay open and in-person, especially since I am graduating in May of 2021,” said Yazdani. “Not every student can say that their school is open and welcoming students during a pandemic. And I for one am very fortunate to be doing senior year in-person and not entirely behind a laptop screen.”
Navigating uncharted waters, the college has not done everything perfectly, but students recognize administration’s efforts to keep everyone afloat, students, faculty and staff alike.
“With trial and error that comes with navigating higher education during COVID-19, Albion has been able to find somewhat of a groove on what works for their students and the college,” said Yazdani.
The article, originally published Oct. 21, 2020, has been corrected Nov. 3, 2020, as follows:
– Quotes said by Forster have been updated for accurately reflect what was said in her interview.
– Quotes said by Yazdani have been updated to accurately reflect what was said in her interview.
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