Ross Barker

Shenandoah University has been working nonstop, since the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year to make sure that the campus is as safe as possible for students and staff, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The school has taken every necessary precaution, more than most of the other schools in Virginia, to stop the spread of the virus. Students and staff are pleased with how SU has handled this situation.

SU Bookstore Manager, Kimberly Otieno, says “I feel that it’s been within reason. And I think that they have done a good job at trying to keep everyone social-distanced and taking the right steps to keep folks wearing masks, and just promote awareness about it.”

SU Student, Quincy Harmon, says “I feel like they’ve handled it better than a few other schools. You know JMU, they had the big outbreak, and I feel like since we’re a smaller school, we’re doing a little bit better than most schools.”

Of course, there are still some issues that some of the students and staff have been experiencing as a result of the protocols that Shenandoah has put in place, and have suggestions for change.

Jazzman’s Cafe & Bakery Supervisor, Rachel Barr, says “My green passes, they actually don’t work, so maybe just make sure the system works for everybody.”

Quincy Harmon says “I’m a musician, and we have to wear these masks with holes in them, and I don’t think that does anything. Maybe just let us not wear masks while we’re performing.”

But overall, everybody seemed satisfied with Shenandoah’s response to the pandemic. And things might not be ready to go completely back to normal soon, but people are still proud of Shenandoah.

“I’m not sure because of the balls in place,” says Barr. “But I think Shenandoah’s doing the best they can.”