Onyx Anneau Fall 2020

Resilient Woodsies Rock New Norm By Marissa Schmitter

the best way for the College to ensure we do not have an outbreak.” Recently, the College was able to purchase two high-tech sanitizing sprayers through a grant from the United Way of the Wabash Valley and the Wabash Valley Community Foundation. The equipment positively charges molecules as they leave the sprayer. The then-positively charged particles repel each other and evenly spread onto negatively charged, porous surfaces such as tables, chairs, doorknobs, handrails and other touch-points, which essentially sanitizes all areas and classrooms quickly and effectively.

I n March, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) sent students, faculty and staff home, leading to a transition to virtual learning overnight. Looking back on 180 years of history including the bearing of such events as the Civil War and the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, it can be no surprise that The Woods remains resilient through what is now the new normal. The College, which returned to in-person instruction in August with protocols in place to keep students and employees safe, had a relatively seamless transition to online learning thanks to the long- established Woods Online program. Things are certainly different, but Woodsies — resilient and adaptive — are positive and proactive. Students, faculty and staff have figured out their favorite brand of mask and how to mix and match with their outfits. Masks are required inside all buildings and outside on campus when physical distancing of six feet is not possible. Campus students are adjusting to new traffic patterns on stairs and with building doors to comply to physical distancing guidelines. Signage around campus is designed to limit unnecessary contact as the campus community navigates classes and daily work.

“This is such a wonderful tool for a department like ours to ensure students, faculty and staff have a safe and disinfected area to learn and work in,” said Josh Wood, director of facilities. “We are so blessed to have been awarded this grant.” Recently, students shared their experiences about COVID-19 protocols during a virtual panel session for alumni and friends of the College. They talked about what it is like to attend class in person, and how wearing their masks and being respectful of each other is just a common everyday part of their lives. Sophomore biology major and math minor Lyric Krouse of West Terre Haute wanted to attend The Woods since she was a child. When it comes to precautions for campus, Krouse said SMWC is doing what they can to keep everyone safe. “Our campus is doing such an amazing job with COVID precautions,” Krouse said. Encouraged to take the Pomeroy Pledge, she added about her commitment, “It’s us saying that we will do everything in our power to stay safe, from washing hands to wearing our masks.”

There is a friendly, collegial atmosphere on campus as colleagues and classmates remind each other to log their health daily in the CampusClear app. Using the app, students, faculty and staff provide daily updates on their health. This has helped to keep the campus community safe and raise the level of self-awareness. “The daily check-in allows the College to very quickly make decisions about our community health as it provides data on where individuals are with symptoms, testing or quarantining,” said Janet Clark, Ph.D., vice president for academic and student affairs. “I believe that this measure, the daily check-in, is

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