Masks have come in all different designs and material—plain black masks, crocheted masks, superhero masks, tie-dyed masks. We even hear there are South 40 masks swirling around out there. Whatever it looks like, we want to see yours.

Maybe it was optimism, maybe it was denial. Either way, here I am, a freshman in college in the middle of the pandemic.

In a short amount of space, #ThisCivicMoment asks contributors to consider questions such as, “How will you act in this civic moment?”, “How will you respond to this civic moment?”, and “What are you committing to doing as a result of this civic moment?”

As many have said before, this semester is certainly shaping up to be one unlike any other. Campus spaces are no exception to this, as libraries and other study spaces are closed for the time being.

I applied for the WUSA position this past spring because I wanted to support incoming students during their transition into college; now I am navigating what that looks like in practice.

While classes are ramping up after a whirlwind first week, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced faculty and students alike to be flexible and cautious in order to stay safe.

Throughout the summer, Washington University had hopes to reopen the Gary M. Sumers Recreation Center for the school year. They had a full plan featuring mask requirements, appointment slots and spaced-out outdoor classes. But as cases failed to lower in the St. Louis area, they had to abandon their plan.

Here’s a list of five (not overrated) places to see within walking distance from campus. It’s important to remember that there is still an incredible and vibrant city outside of campus to explore.

With a hybrid semester, faculty members had a decision to make: To teach in-person or stay fully remote. With course quality, safety and other personal considerations to take into account, we explore how professors made that choice.

As Krista Milich prepared for her class on the coronavirus, she didn’t know how many students would enroll. She heard that 10 students might join, maybe even 100.