More 'annoying than frustrating,' an 'emotional rollercoaster': Students discuss Duke's new COVID-19 policies

<p>&nbsp;</p>

 

Duke just updated COVID-19 guidance after over 300 undergraduate students tested positive over the last week. Students expected the numbers to be high, many are understanding of the new guidelines, and many more are frustrated by Duke’s mixed communication about COVID-19 policies.

“When the email came out I was in [Bostock Library], and every single person let out a collective groan and proceeded to get upset and discouraged,” wrote sophomore Evan McMahan.

Senior Ryan Hastings “wasn’t particularly surprised” about the number of positive cases because he has been hearing about so many people engaging in activities that have a high inherent risk of transmitting disease.

For Hastings, the most substantial information in the email was the suspension of indoor dining. “I thought that was a step in the right direction, especially given my experience that I was exposed to someone with COVID-19 in an indoor dining scenario,” he said.

Hastings believes that administrators have tried hard to set the expectation of complete normalcy by holding in-person classes and hosting big welcome back events.

“[Administration] can't be surprised when students behave like it is normal and socialize and go out and do other sorts of things. Because that's the expectation that was set.”

Junior Evan Dragich was really hoping for a normal year. He called these past few weeks with the new COVID-19 guidelines an “emotional rollercoaster.”

“So much of what got me through last year was white-knuckling through every second of every day saying it won't always be like this—there will be good times again,” he said.

Dragich was especially frustrated that new limitations will be placed on student activities—as Duke University Union’s vice president of administration, he’s worried that DUU’s upcoming events will be affected by the new guidelines.

“I’m glad we got Heatwave, glad we got the roller rink last week. Those were the big things for the first few weeks,” Dragich said. “I texted my advisor to see if he had more information [about the new COVID-19 guidelines] and he didn't know at the time, but he said it would be coming out.” 

Junior Luis Trejo felt  the new guidelines were more “annoying than frustrating.”

“Duke takes a lot of redundant measures, most of the time I feel them being unnecessary,” he said. “And they err to the side of caution, to the degree that they are more extreme than the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]’s recommendations.”

Students are currently signing a petition called "End Duke's New COVID Restrictions." The petition "[encourages] the Duke administration to trust the science, truly care for your students' health, and reverse this harmful decision." It has 180 signatures as of 4:53 p.m. Monday.

Sophomore Sara Azimi thinks Duke’s reaction to this large spike in positive cases was much better than last year’s.

“When this happened last year, we went straight into a lockdown. At least they seem to be taking more baby steps towards trying to be safer instead of locking down the campus,” she said.

However, Azimi is frustrated that sophomores have not really gotten any sort of normal college experience and it's not necessarily Duke's fault.

“It seemed like we got a week of semi-normalcy and then next thing we know we're back with limitations,” she said.

First year Michelle Si thinks eating outdoors will actually improve the first year dining experience.

“No one could just sit at a random table at Marketplace this year anyways, with the screens up and everyone spaced out,” she wrote. “I think it’ll be easier to socialize while eating if there are designated outdoor spaces where people can just join a table.”

Although faculty have the option to teach remotely for the next two weeks, Si hopes that classes will continue in-person, especially small seminars, but she added that she “[understands] and [doesn’t] mind if large lectures go online.”

Parker Harris contributed reporting.


Katie Tan profile
Katie Tan | Digital Strategy Director

Katie Tan is a Trinity senior and digital strategy director of The Chronicle's 119th volume. She was previously managing editor for Volume 118. 

Discussion

Share and discuss “More 'annoying than frustrating,' an 'emotional rollercoaster': Students discuss Duke's new COVID-19 policies” on social media.