COVID-19 has left its mark on many aspects of our everyday lives. The college experience was no exception. The DMACC Boone campus has felt the presence of COVID-19 and the on-campus living situation has been modified.
Danny Higginbotham, Assistant Baseball Coach and Housing Assistant of Borgen Square Apartments, said there are definitely differences between this year and years past as far as the living situation is concerned.
“I think one of the biggest differences this year with housing has been the ability for students to move freely between apartment buildings. Usually, students have the option to congregate in their friends’ apartments but due to COVID, it is not permitted,” he said.
Higginbotham said there were new challenges to consider to keep people safe.
“One of our biggest challenges was the move out process last spring and the move in process this fall. Our administration developed a master schedule which allowed students and their families to be alone in the building, thus safe during the move,” he said. “Luckily everything went smooth due to the patience and understanding of all our students and their families.”
Higginbotham also had a prediction about the future of campus living.
“I do think that some of the protocols will be in place for a while just to be sure the environment is safe for all.”
As a first-year student here at DMACC, my experience living on campus hasn’t been all that bad. Of course, I don’t have prior experience of living on campus to compare to, but I think that life here has still been enjoyable with the protocols that were installed.
For instance, I may not be able to interact with other students that live in my apartment as much as I would like, but I have been able to quickly develop good relationships with my few roommates.
I also believe that the limited amount of interaction has allowed me to focus more on academics. Much of my day, like the majority of the students who live in the apartments, is occupied with class and athletics. This leaves little room for free time, which would potentially include more hanging around with friends rather than school work.
As many other students hope, I think campus living will become more enjoyable in the future, while keeping the safety of the students a high priority.
