Waterville community reacts to students returning
Faced with several uncertainties amidst a global pandemic, not the least of which includes the ever-looming prospect of another campus closure, September arrived on an uncanny note. The new month has ushered in the semester in a rather unusual fashion with new students, returning students, and faculty all facing a patchwork of socially distanced events, virtual and asynchronous courses, and new daily life adjustments.
All these factors have amounted to the upending of what would otherwise be a normal semester. Daily life now includes additions we’ve all become accustomed to at this point in the COVID Era, as mask-wearing, hand sanitizing, and social distancing remain at the forefront of even the most inconsequential action. Whether it’s students on a run to Walmart or simply lounging in their residence hall, seemingly every mundane aspect of life has been touched by the continuing crisis.
Despite reassurances by the College administration, anxieties surrounding the new semester remain as Colby’s much anticipated and high-profile comprehensive health plan goes into full effect. The price tag accompanying this plan roughly totals 10 million dollars - a figure courtesy of the Morning Sentinel’s interview with College in early August.
The plan has rolled out to wide-acclaim and national distinction with its proponents touting its robust testing regimen, extensive contact tracing network, and exhaustive health protocols. However, The Colby Echo is interested in delving deeper, beyond the headlines, to see how local residents and students actually feel about the semester beginning and the College’s overall strategy to keep students on-campus and, above all, safe.
Lifelong Waterville resident and Colby senior Hanna Bouchard sat down for an interview with The Colby Echo to discuss her thoughts about Colby students returning and the broader attitudes in the local community surrounding Colby’s decision to resume on-campus instruction.
“I’m personally thankful that Colby has given us the opportunity to come back,” Bouchard noted. “There have definitely been some concerns [by locals] about bringing students back, especially from outside of Maine and from all over the country. If we were to see a spike in cases in Kennebec County, I could see Colby having a problem because we live on top of each other.”
However, Bouchard expressed confidence in the College’s ability to maintain on-campus learning and host students in-person, suggesting locals will be convinced as well.
According to the College’s official COVID-19 dashboard, there have been eight confirmed cases of COVID-19 (six students and two staff members).
When presented with these statistics, Bouchard maintained her optimism. “I think Colby has it under control and is taking the necessary precautions, as long as students take it upon themselves to follow through,” Bouchard said.
Concluding our interview, Hanna cautioned that pre-existing divisions between the local community and Colby could threaten to derail efforts meant to prevent further transmission. She emphasized these divisions have only been amplified in both presence and intensity since the onset of COVID-19.
“Colby and Waterville have always been separate communities with many attitudes towards each other,” Bouchard said.
To gain further insight into the spectrum of community opinions about the College resuming semester on-campus, The Colby Echo reached out to local business, Selah Tea Cafe, but was unable to obtain a direct statement.
However, a sales associate did convey the business’ excitement about Colby students returning, likely due to the boost in revenue. This feeling was echoed by other local enterprises, who look forward to seeing the direly needed foot traffic and patronage return once again. Amongst the many repercussions of the pandemic, local businesses have endured a harsh economic climate.
Impacted by the College’s closure last spring and the overall reduction in regional economic activity, Waterville continues to suffer immensely, much like the other countless small towns across the country. Several local businesses have closed their doors as a result of the pandemic - some permanently. Nevertheless, in the process of The Colby Echo reaching out to the local community, we were able to notice a very palpable optimism pervasive among residents and businesses alike about what the future holds.
Amidst this hardship, glimmers of hope still shine through and underscore how loss can often represent the beginning of something far greater than what came before. With new possibilities facing everyone in the semester ahead, this idea is something we can all stand to remind ourselves of as we navigate this strange new world together.
~Aaron Mills `24
