Coronavirus dominates fall semester, but does not destroy it
COVID on Campus
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 is a paradox: a universal event most of us experienced, to some extent, alone. We spent a summer doing nothing like what we had planned. At Syracuse University, students, staff and faculty returned to a campus that was masked, distanced, and different. COVID on Campus dominated the Fall 2020 semester, but did not destroy it.
Inspired by The Washington Post’s “Voices from the Pandemic” series by Newhouse alumnus Eli Saslow, students in this semester’s Reporting course interviewed members of our community about their life in 2020. We met a student who transferred to SU and another who opted to take a semester off. We heard frustration from a sorority house manager and levity from a medical transport driver. We visited transformed spaces like the library and the financial aid office. Everywhere, we found people adapting — in residence halls, at internships, and on campus tours.
Documenting the stories of people in our community who lived through this time is the unique privilege of journalists in 2020. Journalism will help us remember what we lived through, together and apart.
The Medical Transport Driver
Senior Manny Martinez is a medical transport driver for Syracuse University Health Services.
The Sorority House Director
Terri Hoalcraft is the facility director for Gamma Phi Beta sorority at Syracuse University.
The Associate Director of Financial Aid
KC Woods, associate director of Syracuse University's Financial Aid and Scholarship Programs, on managing the office during the pandemic.
The Chaplain
Elder Melvin Baker is the Historically Black Church chaplain at Syracuse University.
The Resident Advisor
COVID on Campus: Policy studies sophomore Amit Chandramouly is a resident advisor in Lawrinson Hall.
The Food Services Worker
COVID on Campus: Syracuse University senior Abigail Tubis worked for SU Food Services at Kimmel Food Court this semester.
The Transfer Student
COVID on Campus: Christina Perrier is a sophomore at Syracuse University.
The Lonely Summer
COVID on Campus: Sophomore Roshan Fernandez spent the summer learning how to be alone.
The Semester Off
COVID on Campus: Sophomore Hannah Ly took a semester off from college and used the time to apply her photography skills.
The Tie-Dye Entrepreneur
COVID on Campus: Syracuse University junior Kyra Surgent founded Kyra Kouture in 2020.
The Campus Tour Guide
COVID on Campus: Junior Rachel Richards meets with prospective students as a University 100 student ambassador.
The Library Work-Study
Junior Jackie Ritz works at Bird Library.
The Admissions Office
Wesley Whiteside is the associate director of recruitment and diversity at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.
The Graduate
COVID on Campus: Crystal Rabizadeh is back home in California after graduating from Syracuse University early in the pandemic.
The Foodie
COVID on Campus: Syracuse University sophomore Claire Howard said she’s turned to cooking and food to find a sense of purpose amid the pandemic.
The First-Year
Freshman Lila Broden studies psychology at Syracuse University.
