Is the Tent here to Stay?

Sarah Fox

Reporter

Originally thought to be a temporary measure, the Red Square Tent remains stationed in the square over a year after its setup in September of 2020. 

Although it still takes up the majority of the square, the tent has been stripped of its walls and sides, leaving behind a pale skeleton of wires and metal. Its current absence of walls makes the tent unusable and yet there it still stands. But why? 

To answer that question, the initial reason for the tent’s existence must be acknowledged.  

The PLU community and the world at large have needed to find new ways to adjust to life with Covid-19, and the tent is one measure PLU has taken in response to the pandemic. 

“The Red Square [tent]…was erected in September 2020 as one of our COVID response measures,” said Teri Phillips, PLU Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “It has been used by students, faculty and staff as an informal place to gather, for meetings, for receptions, classes and other events.”

The purpose of the tent was initially to provide an outdoor space for activities which were not safe to do indoors during the pandemic. When Covid seemed to be dying down during the warmer months, there was speculation on campus about when the tent might be taken down. However, since there is still no clear end to the pandemic in sight, the tent may be needed again. 

This then begs the question of why parts of the tent were removed if the structure will still be needed.

“We take the top and sides off for safety reasons,” said Phillips. “Should we get snow and/or high winds the tent is in danger of collapsing. We want to prevent this from happening, protecting people and the tent.” 

Phillips also said it is expensive to take down and put up the tent, which is why they do not completely remove it during winter.

It is too soon to say whether the tent will be taken down for good. For the foreseeable future it will continue to serve as a landmark of upper campus.

“In the spring (March timeframe) we will make a decision to put the top and sides back on or to remove the tent completely,” Phillips said.

Share your thoughts