Students will not be returning to campus for the rest of the spring 2020 semester as stated in an all-student email sent out by President Miaoulis on March 25.

This decision was made due to the rapid effects COVID-19 has had inside and outside of the local community. 

“We continue to act with the health and safety of our entire community as our top priority,” Miaoulis said in the email. 

“After reading the email sent out today, I was devastated to say the least,” said Andrea Macleod, a senior who lives on campus. “I already miss being on campus and spending the last days that I have at RWU with my friends.”

Ending the spring semester with online courses was a surprise to many and some students are worried about having to learn in such a different environment.

“I get it, it’s hectic but my education comes first and it’s physically impossible to do work here [at home]…” junior Rachel Glover said.

Glover even goes as far as saying she would rather have been stuck on campus. 

“They shouldn’t have sent us home for spring break… they could’ve quarantined me there [on campus],” Glover said.

On March 18, an all-RWU email sent out by the Emergency Response Team stated there would be a decision made by April 13 on whether residence halls would open back up or not on April 18. Macleod was one of the many students who stayed optimistic when it came to coming back to campus. 

“I’ve been trying to stay hopeful that my undergrad career would not end like this, and I respect the decision made as it’s safer for the greater good, but nonetheless it’s heartbreaking to read,” Macleod said. 

“I’ll miss things I will never even get to do like commencement ball, jumping in the fountain the night before graduation, and possibly even walking across the stage at graduation.” 

A decision on Commencement has not yet been made. President Miaoulis said he will keep in touch with the senior class over the next few weeks to hear their opinions on keeping the original date, moving the date or having a different type of ceremony. 

“Please know that we are committed to celebrating the graduation of this incredible class together!” Miaoulis said in the email.