Is the fear of the Coronavirus more contagious than the actual virus? COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in the United States over the past few weeks and US citizens have gone into full-blown survival mode. From emptying grocery stores of disinfectant wipes, canned goods, and toilet paper, to shutting down colleges and universities across the country in order to eliminate the chances of contracting the virus.

The chaos COVID-19 has caused around the world is shocking, but the impact the virus has had at WCSU hits a little bit closer to home. 

Students have felt distraught based on WCSU’s plan of action during the Coronavirus outbreak. As the university has announced its plans to continue classes online while the campus is shut down, students and faculty have been quickly trying to pick up their end of the bargain. 

Casey Frisbie, fourth-year Management Major, is finding it difficult to cope with the new arrangements. “Honestly it’s so devastating to see administration cancel all events and athletics throughout April. This is horrible, especially for seniors. Our college careers are basically over. All the best parts of our college experience have been ripped away from us.” Frisbie adds, “it’s upsetting to see [WCSU] kick people out of dorms on such short notice. I know multiple people that had to scramble to find living arrangements.” 

Not only are these changes troubling our students, but WCSU faculty members have expressed difficulty adjusting to the switches as well. Caroline Waldbuesser, Professor in the Department of Communication and Media Arts, says “this is definitely a situation no one could have fully predicted or prepared for. I would say the most difficult part of moving online is worrying about student preparedness and participation. I know the university has tried to help with making sure students have the necessary technology, but it’s still hard to predict if everyone will have access to Wi-Fi at their homes.” 

Waldbuesser adds “I also worry that some of my students may have never taken an online course before and are not comfortable with the format. Other than being patient, flexible, and understanding, I am not sure what else we can do at the moment to help students to adjust. Overall, I think this is a tough situation to navigate and for now, going online seems to be the most practical solution.”

These measures WCSU has taken in hopes to prevent any more illness from the Coronavirus could be having a more significant impact on students and faculty than the actual virus itself. While students have been ordered to evacuate the campus and continue classes online following spring break, this means all extracurriculars have also been put to rest until further notice.

This past week, the NCAA announced the cancellation of all collegiate sporting events due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Senior lacrosse player at WCSU, Ryan Rueling is devastated. “Coronavirus has canceled my final season of lacrosse right in the middle of the year,” says Rueling. 

Athletes all over the country have been frustrated with the decision to cancel spring sports. Emily Allen, student-athlete at the University of Rochester, says “having to end our careers so early and at the drop of a dime was heartbreaking.” Allen adds, “but having to change what I’ve been doing every spring since 7th grade is such a shocking experience.”

With the cancellation of spring sports and other on-campus events, WCSU students are beginning to feel disheartened by chaos COVID-19 has caused. Whether it’s the ending of a student’s career as a collegiate athlete or the beginning of a complicated online learning process for students and faculty, the Coronavirus has crushed the dreams of many. 

James Keller, Adjunct Professor at WCSU, says “While we all knew some kind of change was coming into our lives, I think the scope and suddenness of the actions, including those at WCSU, have rocked many of us back for a moment. It is certainly my hope that everyone will work together, students and staff, to make things work as smoothly as possible, and I truly believe we will.”

As Coronavirus has affected over 100,000 people worldwide, WCSU is not the only university to be canceling in-person classes. Many college campuses are resorting to online education in hopes to lower the chances of more people contracting the virus. And although WCSU is doing everything they possibly can to get the campus back up and running again, for now, all students and faculty can really do is wait. 

“One thing is for certain, we’ll always remember Spring Semester 2020!”