By Jonathan Pifer
With now over 1 million active cases in the state of Texas, the second wave or resurgence of the COVID-19 crisis is more apparent than ever. The world has had to adjust to a new way of life this year and has especially impacted education and work for millions. Texas State University has adapted with the times and put safety measures and precautions in place and shifting most learning and informing into an online environment with much less risk. Amaris Fullelove, a senior at Texas State and an education major, is concerned with the rising cases in Texas, and worries how she will get her student teaching experience in the current pandemic. “Right now, I’m just focused on doing what I can, and worrying about the future when I get to that point,” she calmly states. Over 55 new cases were reported on November 12th, a huge influx compared to the previous weeks five cases, which many believe to be the cause of Halloween, as many students and younger people went out to parties or participated in unsafe practices considering the current health crisis. Not only that but the recent announcement of Joe Biden’s tap to be the 46th president of the United States, leads to uncertainty with a lot of people about how the current pandemic will be handled under a new administration, and how the government will react to a shift in their policies. Biden may potentially want to start another lockdown or bring new mandates and requirements that will once again shift how we learn, work, or socialize. Students are burnt out and lack the motivation that an on-campus education provides. Alex Arroyo, a junior at Texas State who usually makes the Dean’s List, says “he’s barely holding on,” as he struggles to finish the semester before his senior year. I empathize with my peers, and hope that we can get through this together, in a healthy and positive way.
The statue of the famous Texas State Alumni and President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, dons a mask as a reminder to those on campus of the current pandemic and that everyone should wear a mask.
Barely used teaching theatres are now marked with color-coordinated stickers so students can know which sections can sit where, and be socially distanced.
Texas State University has testing centers for COVID-19 that are available to everyone, as well as the public. There is almost always a line on the weekdays.
Texas State’s electronic billboards blast reminders of the Bobcat Pledge, and encourage students to be safe and aware.
A once loud and bustling quad is now a ghost town, with only a few students and faculty making their way to classes or meetings.
The once heavily used Bobcat Shuttles are now only used by a small handful of the student population, who either work on campus or need safe transportation. New rules have been set in place for shuttles such as maximum capacity and a mask requirement.
Bobcat Shuttle seats are asking students to socially distance and remind riders of the Bobcat Pledge.
New stickers on the Bobcat Shuttle are more reminders of the Bobcat Pledge and the new rules set in place during the Coronavirus pandemic.
