By Emily Groseclose
Reporter
I think we can all agree that this was not the academic year that we asked for. Quarantine, Zoom classes, mask-wearing… all of it. No, thanks.
I asked some of my classmates and friends on campus what they thought of PLU’s response, and most of it was positive. Some, however, were much more negative.
Many students believe that PLU’s transparency and timing has benefited both the students and the administration.
Ben Leschensky, a senior Communication major at PLU, was studying away in Scotland when PLU moved to online learning in the spring and believed the school was doing a good job in their quick response..
“…I was still in Scotland when everything kinda went downhill on campus, but it seemed as if through the emails that they were sending out that they were right on top of everything…. So at least from their emails, it seemed like they were quick and on top of things,” Leschensky said. Granted, I don’t know what life was like on campus and if it felt that way, but at least from afar from what they were sending out via emails it seemed like they were quick.”
Even from afar, PLU was timely and effective in their communication about responding to the oncoming pandemic.
Lila Ridge is a senior Communication major who is also on the golf team at PLU. PLU’s COVID response helped her make sense of the pandemic.
“I think it was nice that they were on top of it… We heard about it, but we weren’t really thinking that it was gonna come to us. I think having them be like, ‘Okay, so this is what’s happening in the world, we’re thinking about doing and actually doing it,’ I think it definitely helped at least me come to the realization that it is happening everywhere,” Ridge said. “It was kind of like, ‘Oh okay, so at least they’re telling us what’s going on and they’re keeping us in the loop like they’re not keeping it a secret.”
One student, who would like to remain anonymous, thinks that PLU’s COVID response is too strict. He believes this so whole-heartedly that he is planning on transferring to a different school come the end of Fall semester.
“PLU’s strict COVID protocols are a big factor in my decision to transfer because their protocols impact the rest of the things I’m involved with. I don’t see PLU opening up enough for me to want to be back again. If I wanted an online education, I’d go get it somewhere else for a lot cheaper,” he said.
This student is an athlete, which was also a contributing factor in his decision to transfer. NCAA will be granting current student athletes another year of eligibility due to the restricted competition this season, and this student is eager to use that eligibility at a university with less strict protocols.
“I found a list of all schools that have my sport, and I saw a school I’ve wanted to attend that recently added my sport (they didn’t have my sport before). They don’t have a graduate program though, so I have to transfer now or never. They will be competing [in the spring] and their COVID protocols are more lax than PLU so I will feel more comfortable there, and I’ll probably have more fun,” he said.
Despite his decision to transfer, the student says that he has been pleased with PLU’s professors, coaches, and students, so he will be sad to leave them.
These are tumultuous times, but whatever your stance on PLU’s COVID response, I hope that everyone stays safe, wears their mask, and washes their hands! Please.
