Covid-19 at George Fox
The year 2020 will forever be remembered for the novel coronavirus that ravaged the world. The details are still a bit unknown, but it is believed that Washington state had the U.S.’s first case on Jan. 20. About five weeks later, Oregon reported its first case, and soon after Gov. Kate Brown announced that schools would close starting Monday, March 16. That was followed by a stay-at-home order on March 23. Students at George Fox went on spring break March 20-27 and were asked not to return to campus for the remainder of the semester.
March 18: University President Robin Baker prepares to film a short video message of encouragement for the university community. President Baker writes his remarks in his office. Just before filming, two students met him on the quad and offered to pray for him and the university, keeping six feet of distance Once the reality hit that students were not coming back, everything felt surreal and distorted. The number of meetings on the phone and Zoom skyrocketed. Everyone had questions and problems to solve. Instantly, communication was more digital than ever before. Students moved out and gave premature goodbyes in late March. Giving final hugs and trying to lift spirits by sharing cupcakes weren’t ideal for social distancing. The Oregon Department of Transportation posted warnings about COVID-19 on its dynamic message signs, as pictured here on Highway 99W at the North end of Newberg. It reads: “COVID-19 AVOID GROUPS.”Scenes of closures and physical distancing protocols could be seen around town and on campus. Chapters, the popular coffee shop and bookstore, closed for everything but takeout and required you stay behind the red line, six feet away. The local Walgreens and grocery stores ran out of paper products and disinfectant sprays, and taped physical distancing markers on their floors. Cafés on campus that were usually crowded with students were empty and shuttered. Notes of encouragement and frustration had been scrawled on the sidewalks on campus by displaced students.
While the university was still technically open and students were still on campus, many offices were closed and strict physical distancing protocols were put in place. Student Services was “Temporarily Unavailable,” and only the study area of the Murdock Library was open, with sanitation stations available. A still, quiet morning drone photo of a prematurely empty campus.
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