It’s no secret that COVID-19 has made life, and in turn, college completely different from normal. In order to have a safe and healthy school year on campus, it is crucial to follow the Health Department’s guidelines.

https://www.utk.edu/coronavirus/guides/social-distancing-on-campus

Students lacked in person contact for several months while the stay-at-home order was mandated in Ohio and many other states. Now that campus has reopened to students, social distancing and mask requirements have been set in place to ensure that Ashland University is following the state regulations.

According to the CDC, “The more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.”

However, there are still plenty of ways to socialize while maintaining social distancing.

Different groups and organizations on campus are still hosting events for students to attend. 

Campus Activities Board (CAB) will continue to host free bowling night at Luray Lanes, as well as other events like outdoor movies. These types of events align with the social distancing guidelines as they are being held in open spaces and requiring masks for all attendees.

Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) hosted a block party for freshmen to be able to meet one another and to get involved with other students on campus, even if they are not interested in joining greek life.

Along with that, sororities and fraternities are still planning recruitment for this fall. While most of recruitment will be online over zoom, it is a great opportunity for new students to get involved not only on campus, but with an organization bigger than themselves.

For more information on fraternity and sorority recruitment, visit the following links: https://bit.ly/2YLsJxV and https://bit.ly/3hUNE9n.

Another way to interact with others while remaining socially distant is to start a pen pal chain. 

Some groups on campus have mentioned getting a group of students together to be assigned a pen pal. Once they are assigned, two students can write back and forth during the school year.

Although pen pals may seem like something of the past, it is a great way to communicate and stay connected with people without frequently seeing them in person. 

The less people hang out in person, the less COVID-19 will spread throughout campus.

Ashland University has placed picnic tables outdoors across campus as a way for students to be outside to enjoy the weather, eat a meal, or study and do homework. 

Being outside, yet not in close proximity with others, is a way for students to get out of their dorm rooms and get fresh air.

Other activities that can be enjoyed outdoors include exercising, bike riding, throwing frisbee, and longboarding. Games like corn hole, KanJam, volleyball and kickball and others can potentially all be played while remaining distanced from other players.

Being socially distanced does not mean that students can’t be social. There are plenty of ways to get outside and get involved. 

Groups and organizations on campus want new members just as badly as new students want to be involved and a part of something to keep them busy during the school year.The calendar of campus events can be found at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=ashland.edu_crfkqeprg1fdhspt37v0dklie4%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/New_York.