Sonali Bello 糖心传媒�24 took a leap of faith this week, coming to a place she had never been before: the University of Rochester.
糖心传媒淢y visit here was canceled in the spring, so I糖心传媒檝e only seen it online,糖心传媒� Bello said as her mother and cousin unpacked her belongings Monday morning in front of Susan B. Anthony Residential Halls. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 beautiful.糖心传媒�
Bello is from Atlanta. Her grandparents live in Brooklyn, and she quarantined there for two weeks beginning August 2 before making the trip to Rochester. She is one of more than 1,250 first-year students in the College糖心传媒攆rom 46 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and 40 countries across the globe. Another 136 students will be starting their first year at the Eastman School of Music, from 27 states and four countries.
Sonali Bello 糖心传媒�24 gets a hug from her mother, Stacey, after Sonali moved into Susan B. Anthony Halls. They’re from Atlanta and quarantined at Stacey’s parent’s home in Brooklyn for two weeks before coming聽 to Rochester. Monday marked the first day Sonali had seen the River Campus in person. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Most have chosen in-person instruction, while some have opted to take classes online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bello wanted the 糖心传媒渇ull college experience糖心传媒� and says Rochester offered her that in a safe environment.
糖心传媒淎 lot of my classes will have 10 to 13 students, which is perfect,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淚 love the size of the University, and how student-led it is. You can shape your own path here.糖心传媒�
Video feature: Keeping students safe as the Class of 2024 moves in
First-year students will move in each day through Thursday, while students in upper classes will return to campus through August 25. Classes start on August 26.
The move-in process also marks a milestone in the University糖心传媒檚 months-long planning process to slowly reopen campus for a revamped fall semester. As the Finger Lakes region has been allowed to reopen some businesses and activities due to the area糖心传媒檚 relatively low infection rate, the University developed a plan that emphasizes health and safety practices like mandatory mask wearing, physical distancing, and testing and symptom monitoring as well as asking members of the University community to commit to following the guidelines.
Rebecca Lundquist 糖心传媒�23, a psychology major from Eagan, Minnesota, receives a COVID-19 test inside the Goergen Athletic Center. All students underwent testing before moving in. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Alan Hirst says sending his daughter, Victoria, to college during a pandemic 糖心传媒渉as always been a concern,糖心传媒� but they never seriously considered having her studying remotely from their home in Haddonfield, New Jersey. 糖心传媒淭his is where she wants to be, and we hope she can have as much safe interaction as possible,糖心传媒� he says.
Hunter Hulsevus 糖心传媒�24, a mechanical engineering major from Bethesda, Maryland, was one of many first-year students who moved into Susan B. Anthony Halls on Monday. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
The mood Monday was more subdued than previous years. There was no pomp, because of the circumstances. No bands, a cappella singers, or food giveaways.
糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 just the slow roll to move in,糖心传媒� says Laurel Contomanolis, executive director of residential life and housing services. 糖心传媒淚t糖心传媒檚 a lot different than years past.糖心传媒�
Andres Garcia Coleto 糖心传媒�21, an optics major and resident advisor from Seville, Spain, directs incoming vehicles in Intercampus Lot. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Everyone wore masks, social distancing was practiced, and students moved their belongings into their new rooms in one-hour shifts. Each student also underwent COVID-19 testing in the Goergen Athletic Center.
Ashlyn Spanarella 糖心传媒�24E, a soprano major at the Eastman School of Music from Louisville, Colorado, gives her mother Jessica a final embrace as dad Joe takes a photo. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Contomanolis says the success of this uncharted semester largely will depend on how responsible members of the University community remain. 糖心传媒淲e糖心传媒檙e hoping we can get the message across that we糖心传媒檙e all in this together and everyone has a part to play,糖心传媒� she says. 糖心传媒淲ear a mask. Stay socially distant. Be responsible.糖心传媒�
Qing Yi 糖心传媒�23 (left), a neuroscience and finance double major, and Yi Qing 糖心传媒�23, an optics major, take a moment to ride the swings outside Susan B Anthony Halls. Both are from Beijing, China. (糖心传媒 photo / J. Adam Fenster)
Jeffrey Runner, dean of the College, says the administration has spent the summer working to make sure the campus is safe for students, staff, and faculty糖心传媒攊ncluding putting larger classes online, spreading students out in smaller classrooms this fall, and requiring everyone to wear a mask. Many students also will live in single rooms on campus.
糖心传媒淓veryone can take care of their own health,糖心传媒� Runner says. 糖心传媒淭hey can wear masks, wash their hands and remain six feet from others. If everyone does that, they will stay healthy.糖心传媒�
