Students enjoy, feel comfortable with in-person courses

Hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes are put of the campus routine now. / Photo by Devonne Mccullough

BY TANAJA CAMPBELL / VN Staff Writer

Detroit Mercy has begun its fall semester with the vast majority of its classes online. 

Like many colleges around the nation, students have been forced to either transition to an online or hybrid class structure or to take time off.  

Last March, the McNichols parking lot was packed, classrooms were filled and hallways were crowded.

Fast forward six months, and the McNichols campus is closer to a ghost town.  

But a few courses are meeting on campus, like Multi-Camera Video Production and Direction.

The class requires hands-on learning and activities, and it will remain in-person until the Thanksgiving break, according to associate professor Jason Roche.

Roche said that it is imperative for his students to meet face to face.

“The reality is that we have to have it as a face to face class,” he said. “The only way to do live television studio production is with multiple people working together live at an event.” 

He added, “We’re doing our best to spread people out so we don’t get too close to each other, and we’re certainly following the mass protocol.” 

Sophomore Jorge Reyna said he feels safe attending classes in person.

“It's easy to social distance with the small amount of students in the class,” Reyna said. “It's less risk and more about being cautious about yourself.”   

Junior Madelyn Rush also is on campus.

“I like class in person better because when I’m online I feel like it’s so easy to get detached,” she said. “But coming to class in person – and it’s done safely – I feel like I owe it to the teacher and students to make it worth our time. I personally like it.” 

Senior Ari Chesterman commended the university for fulfilling all requirements necessary to hold classes on campus. 

He said that he feels safe on campus as long as the people around him are doing their part and wearing masks.  

Class sizes are limited, as well, to allow for social distancing.

In addition, sanitizing stations are located in designated classrooms, as well as all over campus in high-traffic areas.