COVID-19 has affected so many lives. However, that isn’t the only thing that changed. Life expectations have changed as well.

Spokane Fall Community College campus used to be filled with students moving about. Groups of students moving from class to class, as well as events and clubs. The Student Union building was a place to gather yourself and study, grab something to eat, purchase apparel and accessories. Representatives from four year colleges would visit and provide information for transfer degrees. 

Many students returning this year have seen a difference in the way campus feels compared to last year. Amber Weatherbee, a returning student agrees. 

“We had many different clubs that people [used to be] into,” Weatherbee said. “I wish I had gotten into all of that too. I felt like we were supposed to be a community for everybody.” 

“It was a ghost town [last quarter],” Erik Nelson said. “There are a lot more people, with health attestation, and masks.”

Having the campus partially shut down is affecting some students’ education, and the way they expected college to be. 

“You can’t go into the Library and study,” said Nelson. “The cafeteria is closed. If you want to come [to campus] to study you have to find a little cubby in a hallway. I go to the science building and find a corner.” 

Personal relationships were formed because of the activities that everyone was a part of. The Spokane Falls campus was filled with activities throughout the week. From the food bank to theater productions to movie nights, there was always something going on that included and invited everyone together. 

Even when there wasn’t an event, the library was always a place to go and feel part of the campus. Greg Cain, the supervisor in the library computer lab, has seen 7 years worth of students go through those doors. 

“Normally we’d have 100 students a day,“ Cain said. “Now it is 50 students max. We are still very steady, and have few times where there is nobody here, but on average there I would say about 30 people [now].” 

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions the school is under, clubs are attended over zoom, the theater is closed, and even class sizes have shrunk. 

“We are open,” Cain said. “ We have 14 computers available, scanners, and two special needs stations available. We even moved computers in front of the windows, which have become popular to watch the squirrels in the trees as you do your work.” 

While some students take advantage of the open library many others stay disconnected. Students that would have normally joined clubs or activities don’t now, from fear of spreading the virus. Zooms are attended but many feel it’s disconnected.

“I’m a veteran, and there’s a veterans group,” Nelson said. “I haven’t been active in it, but I think part of that would be because no one wants to meet because of the coronavirus.”

Campus has shut down in person activities and some resources to students to protect them during this pandemic. However, students agree that having those unavailable changes the way campus feels at its core.