In the fall of 2020, Albion College enacted policies and procedures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 infection on campus. Such policies and procedures caused masks, social distancing requirements and quarantining to become normal for those living and working on Albion’s campus during the school year.
Now, one year later, the state of the pandemic has changed. Most students, faculty and staff are vaccinated against COVID-19, and Albion is working to navigate its way back to in-person social and academic learning environments.
Albion has done away with nearly all COVID-19 regulations, with the exception of mandatory mask-wearing in indoor spaces on campus. This shift is being viewed as a return to normalcy for the majority of Albion College students, faculty and staff.
For those who arrived in Albion only a year ago, however, lessened restrictions are yet another adjustment to make in order to properly interact with Albion’s campus and the community. Most have never experienced Albion without social distancing requirements and gathering restrictions.
Many sophomore students appear to be hopeful about the college’s recent changes to its COVID-19 policies.
“I think the lessened restrictions will allow me to further my involvement in campus and will enable me to interact with more and more people,” said Diana Kernenn, a sophomore from Bloomfield Hills. “I also now have the ability to be exposed to more opportunities than I did last year as a freshman.”
Savannah McDonald, a sophomore from Schoolcraft, shares a similar outlook.
“The reduction of COVID restrictions has already made a difference. I am finding it to be way easier to meet people, and I like seeing more people moving about campus. I am looking forward to being able to support my friends and classmates in their sporting events, as well as being able to interact more with my sorority sisters,” said McDonald.
Kernenn also feels the COVID-related policies that are still in place are reasonable and needed.
“I am really happy with the changes this year with the COVID restrictions. The college is still keeping us safe by wearing masks inside while still allowing us to have more interactions within the community,” said Kernann. “The willingness for the college to also be flexible within the local protocol shows their desire to listen to the students’ suggestions.”
Some sophomores are happy to have the opportunity to learn how to interact with the Albion College campus in more personal ways.
“I am looking forward to being able to support my friends and classmates in their sporting events, ” said McDonald. “I am also very much looking forward to being able to interact more with my sorority sisters.”
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