As I depart my South 40 dorm each day for the next four weeks before the final time I close the door, I’ll likely find myself becoming more and more reminiscent as my undergraduate years come to an end. But for now, I’ll hold off on staring longingly and romantically out onto the South 40 from a window (until the inevitable sound of a fire alarm or a shouted obscenity) and try instead to spend as much time as possible with the people for whom I will never be able to truly express the extent of my gratitude and love.

on-campus activism may play a larger role for Wash. U. students than expected, and it is vital in its ability to enact changes at the University. The previous school year sparked campus-wide activism that cannot be ignored–or abandoned.

Freshman Kyle Puckett used each men’s basketball team’s distance from Chipotle to build a bracket that was briefly fourth in the world.

Seeing students gathered outside of a building during a fire alarm––some without coats, some without shoes, some half asleep––is a common sight on the South 40. Because of COVID-19 and online classes, students have spent more time in their rooms, increasing the likelihood that they may need to evacuate their building due to a fire alarm. Four freshmen share fire alarm stories from their time on the South 40.

No matter the policies, if students cannot take it upon themselves to be responsible, COVID-19 will continue to spread.

While the pandemic has brought unexpected changes to life at Washington University, students can find comfort in knowing that one tradition remains intact: Datamatch, the relatively new yet highly popular matchmaking survey, will be making its annual appearance at Wash. U. for the third year in a row.

Four freshmen, each with their own unique lock-out experience, share their stories from the fall 2020 semester.