Wash your hands or watch your back
St. Kate’s student perspectives on COVID-19
Since January, COVID-19 has been sweeping through China, then Europe, and now America. In the course of a week, most everyone’s lives were turned upside down. St. Kate’s students went on Spring Break a week early in order for faculty and staff to make changes around the university.
This article gives a timeline of the coronavirus pandemic as it pertains to the St. Kate’s community. It contains the opinions and thoughts of St. Kate’s students at each moment in time, and displays the changes in student’s lives.
Coronavirus has changed so much about our world and our community here at St. Kate’s. Click here to go to the St. Catherine University COVID-19 Information page.
March 4, 2020
The St. Catherine University Health and Wellness Clinic lets the community know that they are monitoring the spread of the coronavirus which is, at the time, still only in Wuhan, China.
March 6, 2020
The Dean of Students, Seth Snyder, informs the St. Kate’s community about the first confirmed coronavirus case in Minnesota. He also reminds us to wash our hands and stay home if we feel sick.
At this point, many students are joking about the coronavirus. If a person coughs, for example, someone else might joke, “aha you probably have coronavirus.” However, for some, this disease is no joke.
“This situation affects me personally in various ways,” says Lakshi Gunawardena ‘22 (International Studies). “I am actually at risk of catching COVID-19 because I have an autoimmune disorder and the drug I take for it lowers my immune system even further.”
March 11, 2020
The Office of the President informs the community that they have created a task force to deal with decision-making about the situation. They call this the “Incident Management Team - COVID-19.”
Students, faculty, and staff across the university are buzzing with news of the pandemic and what will happen as a result of it. Some feel there is a lack of information being given to the community about how they are planning to handle the situation. Others feel that the problem lies at the level of the federal government.
“I think the government should be stepping up more instead of leaving it to states to make their own decisions,” says Hannah Guiley ‘22 (Sonography). “I think our whole country should go on lockdown so we can flatten the curve. Many more people will die if we don’t get this under control.”
At this time, neighboring universities and colleges are shutting down. The University of St. Thomas sends out an email to let their students know that they will be starting spring break early and going online until at least mid-April. No one knows what is going to happen, but many anticipate big changes ahead.
March 12, 2020
There are nine confirmed coronavirus cases in Minnesota. The St. Catherine University President’s Office updates the community: “After serious deliberation and evaluation,” the email states, “we made the decision to extend spring break to two weeks, beginning Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 29. All students are strongly advised to leave campus during this break if they are able and as soon as they can.”
With this announcement, life within the St. Kate’s community begins to change rapidly. Unrest can be felt due to the uncertainty of life beyond this extended break, but many students think that the university administration is certainly keeping us updated.
“I think [the university] is doing a good job in terms of sending out updates and making sure international students have a safe and secure place to stay,” says Hannah Guiley. “I know that a lot of people want to help others, but it’s difficult when we’re not supposed to leave our houses. Maybe the university could send out a list of ways to help?”
March 13, 2020
Another update is sent detailing more changes to the university over the extended break, but there is still no word on whether students will be coming back to campus on Monday, March 30, or if the rest of the semester will be completed online.
Students are grateful for the updates, but many just want the university to bite the bullet: “Just tell us if we’re going online or not,” says Makayla Hendrickson, ‘22 (Nursing).
March 18, 2020
St. Catherine University announces that courses will be continued online as of Monday, March 30 for the remainder of the spring semester. Resident students are told to stay at their alternate location for the remainder of the semester.
Many students agree with the choice to go online. “I believe it was a good decision for the University to close the campus for the remainder of the semester,” says Merrick Beddor ‘21 (Public Health). “It will give a chance for the CDC to try to get ahead of the virus and work on a vaccine.”
However, the switch to online classes has some negative aspects: “It is an extreme loss for the students as classes move online,” says Anna Potts ‘22 (Dietetics). “As a current Anatomy and Physiology student whose labs have moved online, I think it is a substantial hardship not to have access to the models and tactile learning opportunities they provide.”
March 19, 2020
Two emails are sent to the St. Kate’s community. The first email states that there will be an accelerated move-out process for resident students, and the second answers questions that were formulated by the first email.
Students are adjusting to difficult changes in their lives, but a few recognize that they are lucky in this situation. “It’s definitely a change to be back home and away from my friends and roommates,” says Hannah Guiley. “I miss school a lot. Like many others, I won’t have a job for awhile. It’s difficult when your whole routine changes. Yet, I feel guilty for complaining because I don’t have to live in isolation. I have family to spend time with, I’m able to go back home to Oregon when many others can’t travel to see their family, and I am healthy. I have been guilty of looking at all the negatives that have come from this. I complain when my schedule’s too busy and I complain when it becomes empty.”
As students try to stay positive, the negatives of the situation are still quite clear: “I am an out-of-state student, and with the closure of the dorms I was forced to fly home,” says Anna Potts. “The time difference adds an extra level of stress because my quizzes and exams are only open for a specific time window, so I always need to be thinking in terms of Minnesota time when it comes to my classes.”
March 20, 2020
Another email from the President’s Office starts with a poem, and then includes some reminders and information about our new lives as they pertain to campus. The big highlight of this email is a reminder to students to prepare for online classes and classwork that start on Monday, March 30.
People’s lives are turned upside down, and because of the coronavirus, future plans are also being cancelled. “I have had to move home because of the coronavirus and my mom just got laid off so it is really stressful,” says Lakshi Gunawardena.
“I would rather just be at school with my friends and I know I am not the only one but we have no control over this situation. My summer abroad, which I have been planning since before freshman year has also been canceled.” Lakshi also mentions that although a lot of things are up to fate, she is doing her best to stay positive about the situation.
March 23, 2020
The Dean of Students sends out another announcement, this time about refunds for meal plans and housing for students who lived on campus. Students are relieved that they are getting their money back, but many are still disappointed that they had to move out.
Meanwhile, students are beginning to establish new routines within quarantine. “I have been keeping busy,” says Rylie Sanford ‘22 (Psychology pre-Occupational Therapy). “[I’m] doing homework, yoga, spending time with family, loving on my dog, and trying to find anything to pass the time.”
Rylie’s dog, Crosby, keeps her company while she practices social distancing.
March 25, 2020
On this day, the President’s Office sends an update highlighting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s executive order to stay at home. Everyone in Minnesota is ordered to stay in their place of residence from Friday, March 27 at 11:59 p.m. through Friday, April 10 at 5:00 p.m. More information about this executive order is found here.
Of course, people are encouraged to stay active and are allowed to leave their homes in order to go grocery shopping or go to the clinic for coronavirus testing, like one student who recaps her experience: “I guess for me, it’s just precaution for getting the test,” says this student. “Being that I work in healthcare and showed one of the main symptoms I decided that it would be best to get tested and self-isolate, so I don’t possibly risk my residents [getting sick].”
March 30, 2020
Online classes officially start, and the University President emails the community to welcome everyone “back” from the extended break.
As we continue through this journey together, remember, as simply stated by Lakshi Gunawardena: “The coronavirus is not an excuse for racism and xenophobia. The only thing that needs to be spread right now is love.”
Take a moment now to give yourself a big hug for getting through these unprecedented times so far. Use staying inside to be a little extra productive and take care of yourself a little more. Check your email and the CDC website for updates. Take a bubble bath. Do some yoga. And of course, wash your hands. Keep hanging in there, and remember that we're all in this together.
