Things have changed at SUNY Oswego in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It started with the school shutting down and sending students home. Then we returned to campus the following school year while having online classes and social distancing with masks. Now things have returned to normalcy.
Most classes are now completely in person, with the exception of some still being online or asynchronous. Clubs and sports have been back in session and masks are now fully optional. COVID-19 testing is also no longer required for students. Students do still have to isolate if tested positive, but not for as long as before.
This is great for college students but could also possibly backfire in the future. COVID-19 is still a sickness that spreads and can have more severe symptoms for some people compared to others.
Even though masks are still an option, most choose not to wear one. If someone is sick with COVID-19, but asymptomatic, they could spread it and not even know it. In Oswego, masks are not required either, so as a whole, things could be fine for now but backfire in the future. This could be a year from now or five years from now.
The college experience is something that many people look forward to when going off to college. They look forward to having college classes, joining clubs, making new friends, dorm life, or other aspects of the college experience. A lot of that was taken away due to COVID-19 in 2020.
For a while, masks were still required on the Centro buses that run on campus and even into the city. If a student did not have a mask, the bus driver would provide one and enforce the rule of wearing them. Recently, it was announced that they are no longer required and no longer need to be enforced to be worn on the bus. The choice is now left with the individual.
Mask-optional policy is a good idea. It allows someone to make their own decision for their body and health without others enforcing it or taking it away.
Another aspect of college is socializing with others. Now with having mostly in-person classes, students are able to interact, meet, and enjoy the previously mentioned college experience.
Both freshmen and seniors are able to make the most of their first and last years on campus. Looking back to 2020 when COVID-19 made its way onto campus, social life became confusing. It was a little bit somber for those coming into college and those graduating.
It is nice to take advantage of what SUNY Oswego has to offer while we can, just in case COVID-19 cases rise and normalcy does not remain.
