College is a period of time in life to have fun, learn something new, meet present and future friends, put your arms around one another and maybe drink a beer. The number one key to being successful in college, is to socialize with teachers/professors and other students.

Due to COVID-19, social life in college has been drastically altered. Now that school has started back, Guilford campus leaders have been working hard to keep everyone safe. According to Jermaine Thomas, there are a total of 19 cases total on campus (as of Sept. 30) and students must quarantine if test results are positive.

Guilford College is taking serious precautions against COVID-19 and plans on keeping campus as safe as possible for everyone. Student residential life has been modified in some ways. For example, gathering sizes are limited and social distancing rules have been enforced. So far, there have been no parties on campus.

Students shared how they felt about the guidelines put in place by the College, particularly the limit on gathering sizes.

“It’s definitely isolating, but it has gotten better since the beginning, because I feel like you can still be creative in the ways you hang out with people by getting outside more,” said sophomore Liz Poole. “There are not any rules about hanging out, just how you do it. I also think that is brought to the attention of respecting each other’s boundaries and tested our previous idea of community on campus.”

Sophomore Destany Cryer added, “It sucks, and I feel as if I’m limited to be a full college student. It’s like we aren’t getting the full college experience especially the first-year students. It feels like a ghost town after seven p.m.”

Indoor campus dining areas are emptier, and the option of take-out has become popular among students.

“I rarely go to the cafeteria and The Grill, but when I do, I see that the staff in food services still have the same heart as they had before,” Poole said.

“The Grill is friendlier, and the staff will have conversations with you, while the staff in the cafeteria don’t talk to us as much,” Cryer added.

Sophomore Hannah Arnett applauded the safety of campus dining areas, saying, “I go to the grill pretty often. Everyone has been pretty good at wearing masks and everything.”

As part of the new COVID-19 procedures, students are required to receive randomized testing throughout the semester.

“I think it is very important,” Poole said. “Especially since people our age do not fully understand that you can be asymptomatic and spread (the virus) around.”

Arnett agreed, saying, “Yes, it is important, because you can contract the virus at any time even if you follow protocols because no one is perfect and nothing is 100% effective.”