Right now, I am sitting at Clubs and Course Union Days here at the University of Victoria. Lively chatter fills the outdoor spaces around campus, with not much difference since pre-COVID times besides the use of masks.
When doing online schooling back in my hometown, I always imagined a drastic change in campus life when most in-person classes are back in session. The increased anxiety about crowds and the rising delta variant had me uncertain about the semester ahead. So far, the University of Victoria has been handling in-person classes well, albeit uncontrollable forces like classroom sizes and to a degree, ventilation within buildings.
In terms of campus culture, it is up to the students to decide what they are comfortable with, but to take every precaution when participating in mandatory activities, such as going to class. While one person may be fine heading into crowds, they could be sitting beside someone who is or has a close contact with someone who is immunocompromised, affecting many people beyond a social gathering.
Thunderfest, Clubs and Course Union Days, and Campus Kick Off have been great events to get back in the groove of socializing after 18 months of online school – when done in a safe and compassionate manner. Take care of yourself and others this semester, while acclimating to new and exciting social events if possible!