With both caution and excitement, Brandeis welcomes students back to campus
Slowly and carefully, signs of life have been returning to the Brandeis campus in recent weeks.
The pandemic upended the usual exuberant, all-hands-on-deck Move-In Day experience. Instead, in order to keep campus density low and enable social distancing, students have made their way back to the Brandeis campus in small waves since early August.
A total of 1,841 students will have arrived at campus residence halls before classes start Aug. 26. Here’s a look at how the move-in process has worked and how things are going on campus.
Department of Community Living staff greeted students and family members in the theater parking lot. A limited number of students have been allowed to move-in each day, spread across residence halls.
Alessandra Flores '23, Josh Alwinckle-Povey '23 and Bela Martins '23 waited in Massell Quad for students to arrive so they could tell them where to park and about the rules for entering the residence halls.
"Some days are busier than others, but it's never really busy," Flores said. "People have been managing well and are very understanding."
Caroline Sturgeon '24 moved into Renfield Hall Monday morning with help from her mother, Amy Lasser. They flew in from Los Angeles the day before.
"It's been a good, easy experience," Sturgeon said. "I'm excited to be here."
Jordan Blatter '21 took a break in Fellows Garden from carrying bulky items from the mail center to his room in the Village.
"It's pretty heavy," he said.
He moved in the day before, but had many items shipped to campus from his home in Great Neck, New York.
"It's a weird change, but I am happy to be back," Blatter said. "It was the longest I'd been living at home since I started college, and I was ready to be out of the house."
A short line formed outside the Shapiro Admissions Center Monday morning, where COVID-19 testing was set up. All students living on campus and anyone coming to campus regularly must be tested twice per week. Faculty and staff who come to campus less regularly must get tested on the days they come to campus.
Monica Aponte '23 arrived on campus Sunday from Puerto Rico. She was cleaning out some empty boxes from the Village after setting up her room.
"Moving in was really organized. Everything has been smooth," she said.
Qun Shi rested by his car after bringing things to his daughter Angela's room. They drove up from Princeton, New Jersey.
"Moving in has been pretty smooth," he said. "I'm happy, but also a little anxious. Hopefully, everyone will socially distance and observe the rules."
Thousands of stickers and signs have been added around the Brandeis campus to remind the university community to wear masks and practice social distancing.
On Monday students socialized in open air tents, lounged in Adirondack chairs, and walked around campus paths. Carina Luo '24 and Eamonn Golden '24 took a stroll after discovering they are neighbors in their residence hall.
"A lot is being done to provide opportunities to socialize virtually, but it can't compare to real life," Luo said. "It's nice to be able to meet people in your hall, even if it isn't exactly like it would be normally."
Categories: Student Life
