The Axle: For this week’s story, I want to discuss the impact of how a lack of socialization due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected people but specifically students. I think that a lot of the college freshmen who are now sophomores that I have spoken to have had a harder time acclimating into the college culture and their social lives than students who were given a normal experience. Freshman last year had a much harder time making friends and being given the opportunities that freshman in the past and freshman now have. For example, I lived in Earle and we were able to hangout in the lounge and socialize all day and night. Last year’s freshmen were not able to have those social moments. They were not allowed to meet friends in class or go out either.
The Riders: I really want to specifically focus on the college sophomores. I want to look into large schools like PSU, but also some smaller schools. For example, my sister went to Gettysburg and she was not allowed on campus second semester and was not allowed to have a roommate for her first. I would want to look into that. I also am curious how communal bathrooms worked and if students had to wear masks in those areas. Last year’s freshmen are who I really want to focus on. It could also be interesting to talk to people in charge of housing and ask them how many are on campus this year VS last year.
Spokes: I want to get video footage of college dorms and use images from the dorms last year. I know for a fact there was caution tape around chairs in the lounges. I also want video footage from last year on campus and downtown VS this year. I think it will be very interesting to compare the two.
The Rim
Beginning: I want to start with how busy campus is and all of the buildings. I also want to show footage of the dorms and residential buildings downtown. I think it will be interesting to show the popular buildings such as the HUB and Willard.
Middle: I then want to interview as many students as possible and compare this year’s freshman to last year. I would use the same questions like “do you feel like you are able to meet a bunch of people” and “has it been hard to make friends?”
End: I would end this story by comparing footage from COVID to the footage that I could get now. I would end my story on a happy note and clips of people socializing and having a good time.