Living on Campus During a Pandemic

Arcadia’s campus last fall and spring buzzed with life. Living in Knight Hall, not only was I in close proximity to my friends in the same building, I had ample room for social activities. It seemed like every week I ventured off with my gaggle of friends to some campus event or one of our personal movie nights in a Knight Hall lounge. Screams and laughs of other friend groups echoed across campus, even late into the night. Despite being such a small community, it was filled with activity. 

Now it’s March 2021, and things have changed. I now live in Oak Summit with my good friend and roommate. Despite the warming temperatures and youth that surrounds the area, it’s not filled with as much life. That was to be expected, however. For our safety, we’re under strict restrictions. That has meant we’ve had to find different ways of entertaining ourselves. 

Apartment living is better than I could’ve imagined. Having a larger space means being able to meet with friends more comfortably and safely. Almost every night, I have at least one friend over to watch a bad movie, making an abundance of popcorn while we queue up a cringeworthy film. 

Another way I’ve found to connect with friends is through Arcadia’s online events. While nothing is the same as in-person events, getting together with a few pals in my apartment to battle it out over Kahoot or Bingo is always a fun time, and provides us with something new other than just sitting around in my living room. 

Despite the circumstances, Arcadia students always know how to keep things fun. The resident assistants of Oak Summit have done a particularly good job of organizing events. One such event was “speed not-dating,” an event hosted over Zoom where people had opportunities to meet others. And, more recently, one of the Oak Summit RAs hosted an event in which residents could paint their own flower pots and plant flower seeds. There are many more events to come, such as paint nights, movie nights, and meditation. 

Another source of joy for me and my friends is Oak Summit’s Global Cafe. Recently opened, they serve Starbucks drinks as well as weekly specials, snacks, and refrigerated meals. Open from 4 to 10 p.m. on weekdays, the cafe is a very popular choice among my friends and I. We’ll often run to the cafe before hanging out, taking advantage of everything from their delicious pizza to fresh coffee. Crowding around a lobby table and sipping coffee with a few of my friends is always a welcome treat. 

Clearly, things aren’t the same, and it won’t be for quite a while. But, thankfully, Arcadia has tried to make the experience as normal as possible.