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College in the Coronavirus Era: Wistful Goodbyes and a Sense of Loss College in the Coronavirus Era: Wistful Goodbyes and a Sense of Loss
(about 20 hours later)
ITHACA, N.Y. — When Cornell University administrators emailed students last week, sobs were heard in libraries and labs. People wiped tears from friends’ faces — then slathered on hand sanitizer.ITHACA, N.Y. — When Cornell University administrators emailed students last week, sobs were heard in libraries and labs. People wiped tears from friends’ faces — then slathered on hand sanitizer.
After spring break, the email said, they should not come back. The school would start to close dorms after March 28, and students were to go home; courses would be held online for the rest of the semester. Schools across the country followed suit, taking similar measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, which began to appear in more college populations this weekend.After spring break, the email said, they should not come back. The school would start to close dorms after March 28, and students were to go home; courses would be held online for the rest of the semester. Schools across the country followed suit, taking similar measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, which began to appear in more college populations this weekend.
A few days later, Cornell suspended classes altogether, for three weeks, to allow students to focus on getting home.A few days later, Cornell suspended classes altogether, for three weeks, to allow students to focus on getting home.
Separating people is, of course, precisely what such drastic measures are intended to do. But at ground level, they bring confusion and pain.Separating people is, of course, precisely what such drastic measures are intended to do. But at ground level, they bring confusion and pain.
Those emotions were on display last week at Cornell, in upstate New York, where students confronted the logistical hurdles that lay ahead — How do you attend an online lecture from several time zones away in Pakistan? What if you have no place to move? — while they also grappled with the personal losses that come with leaving college early, from being torn from friends and budding romances, to missing out on graduation rituals.Those emotions were on display last week at Cornell, in upstate New York, where students confronted the logistical hurdles that lay ahead — How do you attend an online lecture from several time zones away in Pakistan? What if you have no place to move? — while they also grappled with the personal losses that come with leaving college early, from being torn from friends and budding romances, to missing out on graduation rituals.
Not a big deal, in the grand scheme, said one senior, Justin Welfeld, but still, he said, “I feel like a lot of experiences have been stolen from me.”Not a big deal, in the grand scheme, said one senior, Justin Welfeld, but still, he said, “I feel like a lot of experiences have been stolen from me.”
When Cornell became one of the first schools in the country to call off in-person classes for the semester on Tuesday, students were shocked.When Cornell became one of the first schools in the country to call off in-person classes for the semester on Tuesday, students were shocked.
There were, at that point, no cases of the virus in Tompkins County, where Cornell is; health officials there announced the first confirmed case on Saturday, though it was not immediately clear whether the person was connected to the university.There were, at that point, no cases of the virus in Tompkins County, where Cornell is; health officials there announced the first confirmed case on Saturday, though it was not immediately clear whether the person was connected to the university.
And Cornell had felt removed from the growing crisis. Its students come from all over the globe, and the main campus is linked to New York City by its medical and technology schools, whose students and faculty shuttle back and forth. Yet its remote location, amid gorges and forests in a rural part of the state, created a sense, perhaps an illusion, of safety. Ithaca felt like the kind of place you would escape to in a crisis, not one from which you would flee.And Cornell had felt removed from the growing crisis. Its students come from all over the globe, and the main campus is linked to New York City by its medical and technology schools, whose students and faculty shuttle back and forth. Yet its remote location, amid gorges and forests in a rural part of the state, created a sense, perhaps an illusion, of safety. Ithaca felt like the kind of place you would escape to in a crisis, not one from which you would flee.
So, when the news came that Cornell was sending people home, students initially responded with defiance.So, when the news came that Cornell was sending people home, students initially responded with defiance.
Many seniors said they would not leave, vowing to finish the semester in off-campus housing, even as the dorms on campus emptied out. “I’m staying,” said Linden Wike, 22, a senior majoring in astronomy, who questioned the length of the pause on normal, in-person classes and the wisdom of sending people “to where it might be worse.”Many seniors said they would not leave, vowing to finish the semester in off-campus housing, even as the dorms on campus emptied out. “I’m staying,” said Linden Wike, 22, a senior majoring in astronomy, who questioned the length of the pause on normal, in-person classes and the wisdom of sending people “to where it might be worse.”
Nathan Revor, another senior, wrote a letter to administrators that was published by the student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun, and that seemed to capture the raw emotion of the moment. He implored the administration to reconsider its decision and to think of seniors, “who are on the precipice of reaping the rewards of doing our absolute best in school since we were small children.”Nathan Revor, another senior, wrote a letter to administrators that was published by the student newspaper, The Cornell Daily Sun, and that seemed to capture the raw emotion of the moment. He implored the administration to reconsider its decision and to think of seniors, “who are on the precipice of reaping the rewards of doing our absolute best in school since we were small children.”
“These last months are just about everything to us,” wrote Mr. Revor, 22.“These last months are just about everything to us,” wrote Mr. Revor, 22.
The editor of the The Daily Sun, Maryam Zafar, 21, said: “I think everyone is experiencing a degree of sadness, definitely some loss. At Cornell, you feel like you’re working toward something, and theoretically, that would probably kick in around spring of senior year.”The editor of the The Daily Sun, Maryam Zafar, 21, said: “I think everyone is experiencing a degree of sadness, definitely some loss. At Cornell, you feel like you’re working toward something, and theoretically, that would probably kick in around spring of senior year.”
In fact, every spring feels like a reward, students said. It is the time when the intense academic pressure and the gloomy winter are forgotten, when coats come off and Frisbees fly across the greening quads, when there are annual rites like formal dances and Slope Day, when bands play on the hilly campus for — finally — relaxed crowds.In fact, every spring feels like a reward, students said. It is the time when the intense academic pressure and the gloomy winter are forgotten, when coats come off and Frisbees fly across the greening quads, when there are annual rites like formal dances and Slope Day, when bands play on the hilly campus for — finally — relaxed crowds.
“The administration really did struggle with this extremely important decision,” Ryan Lombardi, the vice president for student and campus life, said in a hasty phone interview between meetings on Wednesday. “It wasn’t a decision we were pondering for weeks or even a lot of days.”“The administration really did struggle with this extremely important decision,” Ryan Lombardi, the vice president for student and campus life, said in a hasty phone interview between meetings on Wednesday. “It wasn’t a decision we were pondering for weeks or even a lot of days.”
Updated Aug. 6, 2020 Updated Aug. 5, 2020
The latest highlights as the first students return to U.S. schools.The latest highlights as the first students return to U.S. schools.
He said administrators had addressed the most serious issues created by sending students home: providing support for students with financial aid concerns and housing for those who could not go home.He said administrators had addressed the most serious issues created by sending students home: providing support for students with financial aid concerns and housing for those who could not go home.
The “more heartfelt” questions from students were harder to answer, Mr. Lombardi said. “Some students are saying, ‘I’m going to miss out on the last months of my senior year, and I’m just having trouble processing that. Can we talk through that?’”The “more heartfelt” questions from students were harder to answer, Mr. Lombardi said. “Some students are saying, ‘I’m going to miss out on the last months of my senior year, and I’m just having trouble processing that. Can we talk through that?’”
He added, “It’s hard to see them struggle.”He added, “It’s hard to see them struggle.”
For a few days, college life went on as usual, more or less.For a few days, college life went on as usual, more or less.
Courses were held. Students studied, or tried to study, for midterm exams. “It was hard not to space out in class,” said Priya Pradhan, a 19-year-old sophomore from Nepal majoring in information science and sociology. Everywhere, students could be heard working through the upheaval with friends and on cellphones.Courses were held. Students studied, or tried to study, for midterm exams. “It was hard not to space out in class,” said Priya Pradhan, a 19-year-old sophomore from Nepal majoring in information science and sociology. Everywhere, students could be heard working through the upheaval with friends and on cellphones.
On Wednesday afternoon, the day after the news came, Mr. Welfeld and Danielle Tomer, a couple, took a break together. They got takeout and sat on a stone bench under a tree on Libe Slope, a steep hill in the middle of campus. Ms. Tomer, 20, lugged along her heavy organic chemistry textbooks; she had an exam that week. But she did not open them.On Wednesday afternoon, the day after the news came, Mr. Welfeld and Danielle Tomer, a couple, took a break together. They got takeout and sat on a stone bench under a tree on Libe Slope, a steep hill in the middle of campus. Ms. Tomer, 20, lugged along her heavy organic chemistry textbooks; she had an exam that week. But she did not open them.
The two looked out on the familiar view — the misty town, Cayuga Lake. Every landmark, every little humdrum habit, had taken on new significance — even the sushi bowls, they said, laughing. The couple was experiencing what could be described as sudden-onset nostalgia.The two looked out on the familiar view — the misty town, Cayuga Lake. Every landmark, every little humdrum habit, had taken on new significance — even the sushi bowls, they said, laughing. The couple was experiencing what could be described as sudden-onset nostalgia.
She would probably go back to Westchester County, N.Y., home to a cluster of coronavirus cases in New Rochelle. He would go to Baltimore. “These last days have been rough,” said Mr. Welfeld, 21. “Especially because I am a senior, and she is a sophomore.”She would probably go back to Westchester County, N.Y., home to a cluster of coronavirus cases in New Rochelle. He would go to Baltimore. “These last days have been rough,” said Mr. Welfeld, 21. “Especially because I am a senior, and she is a sophomore.”
The news, of course, affected not just seniors. Soon, some 15,000 undergraduates and most professional and graduate students would have to be situated elsewhere to complete the semester. It was all anyone could talk about.The news, of course, affected not just seniors. Soon, some 15,000 undergraduates and most professional and graduate students would have to be situated elsewhere to complete the semester. It was all anyone could talk about.
“Is it OK to travel?”“Is it OK to travel?”
“Are you going back to South Carolina?”“Are you going back to South Carolina?”
“I have friends with no family here.”“I have friends with no family here.”
“Is there anything else you want to talk about today, Mom?” a woman asked, as she paced with her phone in a library vestibule.“Is there anything else you want to talk about today, Mom?” a woman asked, as she paced with her phone in a library vestibule.
After a moment, she responded, “It varies from bus company to bus company.”After a moment, she responded, “It varies from bus company to bus company.”
Nearby, a man said into his own phone, “Your boy is going to come home! Five-month summer!”Nearby, a man said into his own phone, “Your boy is going to come home! Five-month summer!”
Then, sounding more serious, he said, “OK, call me when you get out of Walmart.”Then, sounding more serious, he said, “OK, call me when you get out of Walmart.”
Around the country, the sense of alarm had been growing. Food and toilet paper was flying off shelves. Handshakes were verboten. Many people had hunkered down at home.Around the country, the sense of alarm had been growing. Food and toilet paper was flying off shelves. Handshakes were verboten. Many people had hunkered down at home.
At Cornell, students were slower to react. Young, healthy people are likely to weather the coronavirus better than older people and those with underlying conditions. This message, at least, seemed to have reached the students.At Cornell, students were slower to react. Young, healthy people are likely to weather the coronavirus better than older people and those with underlying conditions. This message, at least, seemed to have reached the students.
Large gatherings had been called off, but everywhere, in libraries, the gym, cafes, students were jammed together, an illustration of what health officials were telling people not to do.Large gatherings had been called off, but everywhere, in libraries, the gym, cafes, students were jammed together, an illustration of what health officials were telling people not to do.
And the partying continued, not just at Cornell, but at universities across the country. At Tulane, one student died at a gathering last week after falling from a dormitory. The impending campus closings “really just made people clump together,” Ms. Wike, the Cornell senior, said on Wednesday. “I was in an apartment with 20 people. The bars last night were overflowing.”And the partying continued, not just at Cornell, but at universities across the country. At Tulane, one student died at a gathering last week after falling from a dormitory. The impending campus closings “really just made people clump together,” Ms. Wike, the Cornell senior, said on Wednesday. “I was in an apartment with 20 people. The bars last night were overflowing.”
Cornell’s president, Martha E. Pollack, sent a note on Thursday about the importance of social distancing.Cornell’s president, Martha E. Pollack, sent a note on Thursday about the importance of social distancing.
The next day, classes were suspended.The next day, classes were suspended.
The decision was meant to help students get back to their permanent homes before travel became more difficult, the president’s note said. By that point, there were nearly 2,000 cases of the coronavirus in the country. President Trump was about to declare a national emergency.The decision was meant to help students get back to their permanent homes before travel became more difficult, the president’s note said. By that point, there were nearly 2,000 cases of the coronavirus in the country. President Trump was about to declare a national emergency.
The note had more than a hint of urgency. “I implore each of our students to comply with this directive,” Ms. Pollack wrote. “You can do your part to help de-densify the campus and make it safer.”The note had more than a hint of urgency. “I implore each of our students to comply with this directive,” Ms. Pollack wrote. “You can do your part to help de-densify the campus and make it safer.”
Ms. Zafar, the newspaper editor, said: “It was a little adrenaline jolt. It was like, this is really real.”Ms. Zafar, the newspaper editor, said: “It was a little adrenaline jolt. It was like, this is really real.”
Ms. Wike said she and her friends were still planning, for the moment, to stay in their off-campus apartments, but that many people were leaving. “It does feel a lot different,” she acknowledged.Ms. Wike said she and her friends were still planning, for the moment, to stay in their off-campus apartments, but that many people were leaving. “It does feel a lot different,” she acknowledged.
Mr. Revor, the senior whose letter had captured student attitudes just days before, also conceded that the mood had changed. “It went from shock and numbness,” he said, “to just trying to get your goodbyes in. Right now, people across campus are almost desperately trying to get their goodbyes in. They’re really urging people to leave.Mr. Revor, the senior whose letter had captured student attitudes just days before, also conceded that the mood had changed. “It went from shock and numbness,” he said, “to just trying to get your goodbyes in. Right now, people across campus are almost desperately trying to get their goodbyes in. They’re really urging people to leave.
“It’s a beautiful day,” he went on. “A lot of people are sitting outside at restaurants. But we can’t hug.”“It’s a beautiful day,” he went on. “A lot of people are sitting outside at restaurants. But we can’t hug.”