By Kaveri Pillai ’23
Staff Writer
In a world where the COVID-19 situation is constantly evolving, keeping up isn’t an easy task. It is essential to be on top of the facts and make way for conversations that address a simple yet crucial question: What’s next?
Mount Holyoke College President Sonya Stephens’ email in March 2021 was a breath of fresh air for many, bearing the news that Mount Holyoke would open its doors for all students in the fall semester. While many rejoiced at this decision, there were still questions and concerns littering students’ minds about masks, testing and overall safety about in-person school. Before the fall semester started, these initial questions regarding COVID-19 were answered. The MHC precautions seem to be working so far, with only a few bumps obstructing our way to normalcy: The future, however, may not remain as bright. The uncertainty about contingency plans is approaching a level of urgency. Big questions remain unanswered: What is the future of COVID-19 precautions at MHC, and if these plans are already in place, will the student body be privy to the details soon?
According to the Boston Herald, daily positive COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts have gone up from 64 cases in late June to a staggering 831 cases in September. The Massachusetts state government reported a confirmed total of 738,303 positive cases and a vaccination rate of 63 percent. Hampshire County is also slowly catching up, with state numbers at 734 reported cases in the past two weeks, as mentioned on the county COVID-19 dashboard. MHC alone has reported 12 positive cases since Aug. 16, 2021.
On March 13, 2020, the College informed students who wished to stay on campus that “in order to remain in housing: you agree not to travel outside of a 10-mile campus radius for the remainder of the semester.” The email issued on Jan. 8, 2021 echoed the same message at a time when there were under 800 students staying on campus. While the 10-mile radius rule has since been removed from the community compact, the threat of contracting the virus is as severe as it was eight months ago.
Upcoming breaks in October and November will inevitably result in students stepping outside the campus and meeting people whose vaccine and testing information go beyond Mount Holyoke’s scope. There still remains uncertainty about how the College plans on dealing with students coming back to campus at the end of the breaks after not knowing where they’ve been and who they have been in contact with.
The school’s lack of transparency has increased COVID-19 anxiety among students. Moreover, the plans should not be changed without the student body’s involvement. This has to be acknowledged by the college administration sooner rather than later.
Breaks aside, the current classroom structure is to be questioned as well. Classes at Mount Holyoke are in-person, with a few exceptions where professors request students to attend some sessions remotely due to personal reasons. The school, however, has not issued a hybrid or even remote class model for this semester. Contingency plans in the time of a pandemic are of utmost necessity, and without addressing the “what if?” situations, students are left in the dark. These plans require coordination with residential staff and student accommodation services, as well as clear communication between the school and students, which is lacking at this moment.
Contingency plans aren’t intended to instill fear in the minds of students. They are simply precautionary measures that are necessary in times of crisis. Without transparency regarding COVID-19 measures, students are given the impression that they are to fend for themselves. Mount Holyoke needs to do its duty toward its students by discussing the future of COVID-19 precautions that will ensure the institution’s ability to be dependable and safe during a time of uncertainty.