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 infuence 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 infux 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 frst 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’ infuence 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 signifcant 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 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 frst 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.

Boston University and Northeastern University students are allowed only in their designated dorm buildings. This system is instilled through ID cards that give access to only your building and prevent students from entering any other dorm on campus. Guests and visitors are prohibited from entering all dorm buildings. Having no guests or visitors is a rule that applies to Emerson College as well, although many of their students are living in a 5-star hotel. Emerson’s largest dorm building was converted into quarantine housing, so the college bought many foors in the nearby W Hotel as residential units for their students.

Each institution’s location in Boston plays a critical role in their college experience during the pandemic. The ongoing pandemic has sparked many critical movements— specifcally in politics due to the election and inauguration, as well as social movements like the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests.

Gregory Gager, a sophomore at Emerson College studying visual media arts production, stated, “Being in the city when the election results were announced was genuinely one of my favorite days. Living so close to Boston Common, I celebrated in the street with everyone. My city location has allowed me to participate in protests far more than if I was back in my suburban home.”

Students at Boston College reported feeling far more removed from these events due to their location closer to the suburbs of Boston. Harvard University students are not allowed to leave campus at a far radius so thus were unable to attend many events, but the university entertains students through socially distant events in Harvard Square.

Northeastern University has utilized the space available on campus in order to help students. Sydney Tan, a sophomore at Northeastern University studying mechanical engineering, stated, “They’ve actively set up outdoor areas where it’s a little easier to hang out with people in a safe setting. They’ve put up heated tents around campus that students can study and eat together in (since the dining halls are all take-out only). There are also gas-powered fre pits that make the colder weather more bearable.”

Besides altered living conditions, most school-run activities such as sports and clubs were cancelled or severely altered. Many students have been waiting their entire college experience or chose to attend these specifc institutions due to these now canceled activities.

Juliette Barry, a senior at Boston University studying flm and television and advertising, stated, “I had planned on studying abroad in London for the summer of 2020 but that got canceled. So, I reapplied for Fall 2020 and that got canceled too. Since the beginning of my freshman year at BU, I had been planning on studying in LA, but that got canceled too. Study abroad was canceled on me three times! I’m so bummed.” Besides study abroad, Juliette’s three on-campus internships were canceled. She is also part of a sorority on campus, Sigma Kappa, which altered all their activities to virtual or few socially distant events.

Chris Lee, a sophomore at Harvard University studying economics, stated, “Everything in my life has been changed. I’m an athlete whose sport was cancelled for the year, both my internships were cancelled, and all clubs I was a part of have become virtual.”

Sydney Tan (Northeastern ‘23) stated, “Northeastern has a co-op program, and it’s actually one of the main reasons I ended up at this school. A co-op is basically an opportunity for students to fnd positions at real companies related to their major. I know a lot of people who are currently on co-op, and many go into the offce physically, or work completely remote (depending on the company). However, this is only the case for the people who were lucky enough to fnd a co-op last semester. Most people struggled to or were unable to fnd a co-op due to

individual companies not wanting to take on new employees due to the pandemic.”

Gabriel Seplow, a freshman at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee studying contemporary theatre, stated, “The biggest change is with performances. Mainstage plays, musicals or student run theatre company productions are now done completely virtually. It is very diffcult to fnd any theatre internships. Most have been postponed or canceled due to the pandemic.”

Emily Parra, a junior at Boston College studying applied psychology and women and gender studies, stated, “I was supposed to go abroad this spring and that was cancelled. I also had to drop my ffth-year program for social work. I am President of Students for Sexual Health club, which is now fully online. The club had to be fully restricted, which changed how we distribute information to the BC community.”

The world has been severely altered due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. College students were forced into a new mode of life that altered their system of learning. Every student I interviewed expressed a severe toll on their social and academic life. There was a severe increase in loneliness, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and depression. There was a severe decrease in attention span, amount of sleep, self-care and hygiene, exercise, relationships and overall morale. Many students have recently sought help through family or medical professionals.

The movie depiction of college life is even further from reality than it was before. Students are struggling, just like so many others in the world. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe emotional and physical turmoil that is far from one group burden and blame.

There is strength in unity and love that the world has never needed more than now. Rivalries and contempt should be put aside to keep fghting through this pandemic. All residents alike are working to protect Boston and allow it to be the special city we all are fghting for.