Photo by Rosemary Geib ’23.
Blue signs posted around campus direct arriving students and guests through the move in process.
By Anoushka Kuswaha ’24 and Tara Monastesse ’25
News Editors
Content warning: This article discusses ableism.
Over the summer break, the Mount Holyoke College community waited to see how the pandemic would impact the community’s modes of learning and lifestyle on campus this semester. The impact would begin with how the community would approach its campus move-in process for the 2022-2023 academic year.
A July 28 letter to the community from Interim President Beverly Daniel Tatum announced that three-layer face masks would be required within indoor campus spaces until Sept. 16. This date was later extended to Sept. 30 as noted by The Health and Safety Committee in a Sept. 14 letter to the community. The July update also requested that residential students receive a negative test result within 24 hours before their move-in time. For students unable to provide third-party documentation of a negative test result, on-campus testing was made available upon arrival.
Students interviewed by Mount Holyoke News about their move-in experience primarily chose to utilize the on-campus testing option to obtain a COVID-19 test. The opportunity to test on campus was particularly convenient for some, as the limited testing time of 24 hours made it difficult to receive a test at surrounding pharmacies while coordinating travel to campus, Emily Jones ’23 expressed.
Some students were wary of the delay to the move-in process that was advertised on the Fall 2022 Move-In website, should they choose to get tested on campus. Felix Lawton ’24 expressed initial reservations about getting tested on campus for this reason. Lawton was also concerned with getting tested within the required timeframe, but voiced how the availability of testing on campus made the move-in process go “smoothly.”
Jones also voiced interest in getting tested before arriving on campus to quicken her move-in process but was unable to do so as the nearby pharmacy where she sought out a test no longer offered [COVID-19] tests.
“I got tested when I came to campus, and that was such an easy process,” said Talya Denis ’24, a resident of Creighton Hall. “I just decided to do it at the school. I thought it would be easier.”
While biweekly asymptomatic testing is no longer required for students, as was College policy during the previous academic year, symptomatic testing is still available upon request through College Health Services.
However, it did not escape students’ attention that out-of-school testing was a non-feasible option. “I called a local Walgreens near campus but they said they weren’t doing [COVID-19] testing,” explained Jones when discussing why she had to get tested on campus.
The lack of testing available prior to the beginning of the school year indicates that it could become increasingly difficult for students to access testing outside of the campus as the year progresses, and has raised concerns for health safety among students. “I wish the College had more options to get tested for [COVID-19]. The only way to get tested is if you have symptoms but I’m concerned about the spread of [COVID-19] without regular testing.” expressed Jones. This sentiment was echoed by Lawton who said “I think especially in light of the school not testing asymptomatic students for [COVID-19] anymore … that I am less comfortable with the idea of not having required masking … [COVID-19]-19 has only gotten more contagious and still poses a serious risk to immunocompromised students here on campus.”
During Fall 2021 move in, residential students with guests were asked to provide the information of up to two guests in advance. This year, residential students were not required to register outside guests assisting with move-in, nor was there a stated limit to the number of guests allowed per student. There remained, however, a requirement for all guests accompanying a student to wear a face covering whenever they occupied a residence hall building.
The Office of Residential Life also released updated guidelines to the campus guest policy, including for overnight guest stays, in an email to residential students on Sept. 4. The only requirement is for student hosts to fill out and submit the Guest Registration Form prior to their guests’ arrival, affirming that they are either fully vaccinated or have received a negative COVID-19 test result within the last 48 hours. No additional steps are required after this point. The current maximum number of overnight days for each visitor is 14 days per semester, with no stay exceeding five consecutive days.