“The best four years... during a pandemic Boston: The College Town During Covid-19 written by Kaylee Chin | photographed by Chika Okoye | designed by Macy Wilbur
Around 35 universities and colleges span and surround the city of Boston. Each institution uniquely contributes to the economy, culture, history and overall appeal of this special city. However, the influence of college students during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused tension, especially with Boston locals. The Boston Globe highlights these opinions in a July 2020 article: “Boston-area residents fear there will be an influx of college students—eating at local restaurants, shopping at grocery stores, drinking at off-campus parties, and taking public transportation—that could lead to new outbreaks of coronavirus.” The typical college lifestyle comes with many factors that would lead to further spreading of the virus and thus, at first glance, is worthy of instilling fear. In many cases, this fear has been twisted into criticism, contempt and blame on college students for the pandemic’s continuation. Are locals correct about college students’ influence on the pandemic? Or have their frustrations been pushed to scapegoating students? Through interviews with students attending Boston University, Harvard University, Northeastern University, Emerson College, The Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Boston College, I aim to see their perspective and compare the action plans each institution has created to protect the city of Boston. A typical college classroom would bring a significant amount of interaction; however, these institutions have worked to re-program their courses into systems of hybrid or full remote classes. Harvard University allows students to live on campus but is conducting their classes through a fully remote system using Zoom. Boston University and Northeastern University function in a similar way, in which students choose their preferences to either attend courses inperson or remotely through Zoom. There is a maximum number of students allowed into
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each room, and larger classes often have a randomized cycle that alternates attendance. Emerson College allows students to attend courses in-person every other day. The Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Boston College have their students attend most courses online but allow some in person. Every institution gives students the option to take all courses fully remote and records lectures to be viewed by students—often in other states—at a later date. Boston’s universities and colleges have each come up with systems for tracking COVID-19. Each institution has a thorough plan for mandatory testing, locations for students that test positive, and contract tracing of those around the infected. Harvard University and Boston University students are required to complete a daily symptom assessment survey. This survey sends information to the university detailing if students were experiencing any symptoms that could indicate COVID-19. Boston University, Harvard University and Northeastern University each ensure that their students get tested three times per week. Emerson College and The Boston Conservatory at Berklee ensure that their students get tested twice a week. Boston College students are mandated to get tested twice, once upon first arriving to campus and then switching to asymptomatic surveillance testing, which tests students varying between once a week or once every two weeks. Each university provides free testing at testing sites close to or on campus. Any failure to comply with these procedures leaves students locked out of their dorms and all university facilities. Students’ living situations have changed drastically due to the pandemic. Students had to say goodbye to spending time in the library, dining halls, classrooms, laboratories and other facilities. Masks and remaining socially distant is required throughout all residents and facilities across each institution.
