DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) – Students began moving onto campus at St. Norbert College this week, and there were a lot of mixed emotions about leaving home – and uncertainty surrounding COVID-19.
“New students had a really difficult and disappointing end to their senior year, so what we’re seeing in our new students is a deep desire to be here, to be in a community, and be together,” says St. Norbert College President Brian Bruess.
A parent waits for directions during move-in day at St. Norbert College, August 20, 2020. (PHOTO/WTAQ News)
Boxes of belongings, hangars with new clothes, and…Lysol. Parents were on hand to help students move into their new homes Thursday morning.
Joe Backmann has already sent one kid to college and a second to the Marines, so he claims he’s used to the emotions. As for potential spread of the coronavirus in such close quarters – he’s not worried at all.
“I’m not nervous about it, my daughter’s not nervous about it, we just want to get life back to normal,” Backmann tells WTAQ News, “It’s weird. I hope she has a great experience. I’m a little nervous because I don’t want the face mask thing or social distancing to ruin the kids experience. I don’t personally think it’s worth it. I think these kids need to live their lives, and I think you need to have fun and enjoy this experience…If they get it, I’m fine with that. If it spreads, I’m fine with that. I think the sooner they get it, the sooner we get it through our systems and the better off we are. These kids are young and healthy, and I just believe that stats prove that it really doesn’t affect them as much.”
Others expressed a bit of concern, not only for their kids leaving the nest, but for the potential spread of the coronavirus.
Parent Amy Corona unloads her vehicle during move-in day at St. Norbert College, August 20, 2020. (PHOTO/WTAQ News)
“The pandemic has for sure added another layer to that but I don’t know that it would have been any less or more emotional one way or the other…I’m super concerned, but I hope that we can help mitigate some of those risks by educating these kids,” says Amy Corona, “Keep your mask can keep hand sanitizer on you and just try and be prepared…I’m hopeful that the university has some measures in place and have thought ahead.”
The college confirms that there are a number of measures and plans in place to minimize risks – and that started Thursday with move-in.
“We’ve almost tripled the time. We normally have a pretty compact move-in window in the mornings, but in order to ensure the safety of our students, their families, as well as our staff, we’ve expanded to the entire day,” Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Julie Massey tells WTAQ News, “We do have faculty and staff out and around and they’re helping to direct people and welcome them but we understand that our families and their students don’t want strangers carrying their belongings into their rooms.”
The process was also longer as a whole. Families would check in at a remote parking lot and given a specific time, which allowed faculty to space them out so everyone wasn’t driving up to the residence halls at the same time. Once they arrived at the hall, staff would conduct traffic to point where people should park. Students would sign in as their families unloaded the vehicles, and they were sent to one of several doors that were propped open to avoid contact or close quarters as much as possible.
A new student checks in during move-in day at St. Norbert College, August 20, 2020. (PHOTO/WTAQ News)
Some incoming freshman and first-year Green Knights thought the process went fairly smoothly.
“Lots of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting,” says first-year student Maia Vanderwerff, “I feel like it’s easier considering there’s not so many people to move around the hallways aren’t as crowded.”
“I totally stand by it. It makes sense,” Megan Petrus says.
But as for the school year itself – they’re looking forward to college, even if there are some reservations with the rules surrounding the pandemic.
“I’m used to knowing a lot of people I know everybody and what their story is, and now it’s more of stay away, watch where you are, watch what you’re doing,” Vanderwerff tells WTAQ News, “I’m more afraid of being sent home and having to do everything at home and having to email professors rather than being able to see them in person.”
“COVID hasn’t really affected me much. I mean, it’s definitely different, but it doesn’t affect how excited I am,” says Chloe Gruszynski, “I’m just worried that if someone does catch it, we might not be able to continue going to college for a while but I hope that doesn’t happen.”
“I feel like the first two weeks are going to feel like a summer camp, but then after that I’ll be like – ‘Oh, I’m in college,'” Petrus says.
There will be changes within the hall living styles as well. For example: Partitions have been installed between sinks, and students are encouraged to not leave toothbrushes on the sinks. A sophomore hall that usually accommodates four students to a room was cut down, and over 100 students were relocated to avoid having that high-density population.
As for the entire campus as school kicks off this fall? They have a number of plans and situations they’re prepared to handle.
“We know we’re going to have cases, so we’re prepared. We’re ready. We’re proud of how we prepared, and we’re ready to adapt no matter what comes this fall…We have a really strong plan that we put together that’s been approved by De Pere Public Health. I think the excitement to be here is palpable and excitement to stay here is also real,” Bruess tells WTAQ News, “We have a wonderful case response plan that includes any students with any symptoms are quarantined while they’re tested. Any students with symptoms will be tested and they’ll be held in a quarantine while that test result comes back…We’ll be isolating students as appropriate based on public health requirements.”
Bruess adds that their hope and expectation is to maintain in-person classes and activities, but that they are ready to pivot at any time if that is deemed necessary. The school will also be reporting weekly updates on the number of cases and how they are being monitored – as well as all factors and variables being considered. Those reports will be available on the St. Norbert College website.
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