Claire and Mark Tankersley help their son, Jonathon, a freshman at UofSC, move into Columbia Hall Monday, August 17. The Tankersleys came from Virginia to move Jonathon into his dorm room on their assigned move-in day.
Move-in day as a college freshman is exciting, a little nerve-wracking, and scary for both parents and students. But to say freshman move-in day fall 2020 was different is a bit of an understatement.
Freshman Jonathon Tankersly from Virginia was helping his parents unpack their car at Columbia Hall Monday, August 17, and explained, “I had to get tested and have results in the system to get our move-in pass to the dorm. If you didn’t have all that done, you might have trouble getting in today.”
Testing was the first protocol all parents referred to when asked how safe they felt bringing their son or daughter to college. Connie and Dan Conway of Massachusettes said, “Our son had to be tested 10-14 days before move-in, had to get a negative result, and get our moving in pass approved. We knew South Carolina is up right now with cases, but we feel like all the precautions were good and hope everyone stays safe and everyone makes it to November break without it shutting down.”
Connie and Dan Conway brought their son Nathan to UofSC Sunday, August 16, on their assigned move-in day. Nathan, a UofSC freshman, moved into Columbia Hall and was excited to meet his new suitemate and start his studies at the university.
The Conways’ son, Nathan, added, “I feel very safe and ready for the year. We moved into my suite and met my suitemate yesterday; we kept our social distance, and it went very smoothly.”
Erin Kent of Hartsville, S.C., was also happy with the protocols placed on UofSC’s movein process. She said, “I’m helping my daughter, Maklon, move in today, and I was delighted with everything UofSC shared with us about the move-in process. They were very cautious, and I appreciate that. It’s probably more aggravation for the parents, but we do appreciate it. We were informed regularly, definitely email after email, but still very well informed and ready.”
All the parents interviewed Monday were very happy with the information UofSC had provided about testing, social distancing, and mask protocols. Robbie Paul from Atlanta was moving his son into Columbia Hall and related, “UofSC was excellent about communicating about COVID protocols. They made sure parents were aware of what they wanted them to do for moving in, and I’m very confident UofSC will keep our family informed about any issues with COVID and testing as the semester moves forward.”
UofSC freshman Maklon Kent and her mother, Erin, unload their car in the parking lot behind Columbia Hall. Maklon was assigned her move-in day only after she tested negative for COVID and was given a move-in pass by the university.
All the students interviewed were, needless to say, excited about starting college and moving into a dorm but were also veterans of life with COVID and were very pragmatic about being in college at the same time as a pandemic. Freshman Maklon Kent explained, “I was nervous on the way here about moving in, but when we got here, I feel like it’s okay. I feel pretty good. All the protocols are understandable; it’s bothersome, but it works, and I understand why and if we want to stay here in school, we’ll have to do them.”
The students interviewed will have a mix of in-person and online classes. Nathan Conway said his schedule consisted of “two classes in person and three online classes.”
Kent added, “Most of my classes are actually in person—a few that are both, in-person some days and online on other days, but I’m glad I have lots of in-person classes.”
COVID testing before moving into a dorm; staying as socially distance from roommates and other people in dorms; wearing a mask everywhere on campus: online classes, in-person classes, mixed classes—It’s a lot to think about and process as a freshman before even starting classes.
Mark Tankersley said, “This is actually my first time on campus, ever. I couldn’t come to visit in the spring, so there’s a lot I need to find.”
This is a year of firsts, and this freshman class will have the honor of being the first class of the COVID pandemic to start college at The University of South Carolina. Maybe they will receive an extra tassel upon graduation. After all this, they will deserve it.
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