Living in Residence During COVID-19
FREDERICTON – Rigby Hall is St. Thomas University’s off-campus residence hall and is currently the only residence open as rooms have their own bathrooms and there is a meal hall in the building. With the COVID-19 pandemic there are new rules in place compared to past years. Residents now have to wear face masks inside when they aren’t in their rooms. All of the lounges are closed and there are no outside guests allowed nor other residents allowed in other resident’s rooms. Residents were sitting in the hallways social distancing and wearing masks to socialize but were eventually told they weren’t allowed to. They also tried to do the same in the common area in front of the Elm Room but were also told they couldn’t socialize there either. Many believe it’s taking a toll on people’s mental health between learning how to learn online, being away from family, not being able to hang out with friends in residence but nowhere to hangout outside of residence. Students are able to study on campus in places such as James Dunn Hall or Margaret Norrie McCain Hall but find it a pain to get up to campus from Rigby everyday.
Meal Hall this year is also different. Students now only have the option for one meal plan which is the 14 meals a week plan. This is because the meal hall is now only open 12-2 for lunch and 5:30-7 for dinner, this was put into place to make sure food wouldn’t be wasted with so few students staying in residence. There are also very few seating options with tables spread out to ensure social distancing.
Dawson McNeill, a first year student at STU, says “It’s hard because we’re not allowed to really go outside of our rooms and hangout with people. And there’s not really any common spaces and there’s not really any lounges. And we’re not allowed in other people’s rooms and it’s just really hard to make friends when we’re not really allowed to hangout”. Many other residents are unhappy with these rules as they feel like they’re missing out on university life, especially first year students, but also understand why they are in place. They hope that some restrictions can be lifted in the hopes of connecting with more people and making more memories.
Even though the students living in residence this year find the rules and restrictions frustrating they understand they need to keep themselves and others safe and are grateful to live on campus.