A poster displaying the requirements of entry and needed screening procedures on the door of Merlin House. The Residence, like all buildings on Fanshawe's campus, requires full COVID precautions to be taken before entering.
It’s a fresh year back at Fanshawe, and students have been moving into the Residence buildings on campus and settling in for the semester. In the continuing wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions and safety precautions are still in effect on campus grounds. Students are restricted in their ability to have guests over to the residence buildings, and are limited in the number that can take advantage of public spaces within the buildings.
“We just opened the lounges so they can go and have their recreational time, but we limit the capacity to three people at a time,” Resident Service Representative Jay Chavez explains from behind the plexiglass window that separates the front desk from the lobby of the Merlin House Residence. “We also ask the RAs to do way more social activities that are carried out online instead of doing it in person, which is still giving them the opportunity to interact with other people in their community without being exposed to any disease.”
In addition to the social distancing rules, Fanshawe has also announced that students will be required to have both vaccine shots by November 5th in order to be on campus.
As announced last week, Fanshawe is implementing a vaccine policy for all students, employees, contractors and visitors who attend any campus or affiliate locations.
All students will have received this email this evening: https://t.co/JFGszrgvVA pic.twitter.com/5MKmJgpuAI
— fanshawecollege (@FanshaweCollege) September 2, 2021
For first-year students, arriving on campus during a widespread pandemic has impacted the way they expected their college experience to begin. “I do think, because of COVID, it’s inevitable for our college experience to be restricted,” first year student Vicky Starcevic explains as she waits to get picked up for a weekend back home with her family. “But despite COVID, it’s still lived up to it.”
When it comes to the restrictions placed on students, being restricted on having guests over is the main point of contention. “If you are double vaccinated and get tested, I feel like you should be able to have some guests from outside,” says Joseph Swec —another first year student and member of Fanshawe’s baseball team. Swec has already gotten both shots, as it was a requirement to be able to play on the Falcons’ team. “Their call though; it’s good to keep the spread away. But I feel… if you’re double vaxxed, it should be okay.”
It remains to be seen what sort of changes students can expect in the restrictions as the year goes on. What we can only hope for is a safe and educational year for all Fanshawe Falcons.
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