Coronavirus

Marietta College students leave as school transitions for outbreak

MARIETTA -- Marietta College is quickly changing gears and transitioning to online or remote-only classes until further notice -- at least March 27 -- in an effort to help keep the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic outbreak under control.

Colleges and universities across the country are doing the same. On Sunday, MC students were permitted to return to their dorms in order get some of their personal items that they may need for the next few weeks.

Spring Break at Marietta College ran from March 7-15 and students would ordinarily be returning to campus for today's classes. The coronavirus pandemic has forced Marietta College and all colleges to revert to "Plan B" and quickly find education alternatives so the institutions can navigate through the end of this school year.

Marietta College already had measures in place to take on these sudden challenges.

On Friday, members of the MC Leadership and COVID-19 Task Force conducted a comprehensive hour-long virtual Facebook Live presentation discussing what students and parents can expect in the coming weeks. Led by MC President William Ruud, the presentation covered topics such as online education, housing, work study, possible reimbursements, athletics and study abroad. The full posting is on the MC FaceBook page.

The plan is to switch to online education for at least the next two weeks. The learning process will simply be delivered in a different way. Labs, studio courses, rehearsals and other certain other courses could be challenging but may have to take a different route than from the norm, but nothing that can't be overcome, officials said.

Since the students will not returning to the residence halls for at least two weeks, they and their parents on Sunday were picking up belongings such as computers, personal items, medication, technology and course materials from residence halls. There are some exceptions for students with distance and hardship situations.

Marietta College is doing everything possible to work with federal, state and local governments, health officials, the NCAA and other colleges to do what is necessary, officials said. The spring sports season has been canceled and there is an international travel ban through Aug. 19 which will eliminate study abroad.

"I appreciate all the things they're doing to make sure we're all safe and looking after our best interests," said Abbi Thompson, a junior Health Science major from Columbus as she and her mother were carrying items to their car.

Abbi's mother, Lori Thompson, said she thought MC did a good job with the FaceBook presentation.

"I appreciate Dr. Ruud taking all of the precautions that he has," said Lori. "It might be inconvenient in the short run, but in the long run he has everyone's best interest at heart. He's trying to do the right thing."

"I think that this is necessary," said Kaitlyn Carpenter, a junior Management Major from Columbus. "We have to pack it up and go home for now but they will let us know more later."

"This is a disappointment but I also think the school is trying to keep us safe," said Henry Clark, a sophomore Health Science major from Cleveland. "It's just one of those times where you just have to get through it … stuff happens and you keep on going.

"I play lacrosse and it's a bummer for our seniors, but we just have to keep working for next year," said Clark. "I'll be doing the online courses for the next few weeks. We'll see how it works out. It will be something new and a good experience."

"These are very weird times indeed" admitted sophomore Chemistry major Christian Knox of Mt. Vernon.

"I enjoy the face to face time" said Knox. "I'm a chemistry major and I live in the lab all of the time. Not being able to do that is pretty inconvenient. We're hoping it all straightens out, but we're moving all of my stuff out today anyway, just in case."

Cleveland Wilder and twin brother Carsey, of Huntington, came back to campus Sunday to pick up some things along with MC football teammate Joshua Pennington, also from Huntington.

"I like it here and everyone wants to be here," confessed Cleveland. "It will be tough not to see everybody for a while."

"We're here to pick up a few things and then go back home," said Carsey. "We're online for a couple of weeks and then we'll take it from there."

"We went home for spring break with plans to come back in a week to start spring ball," said Pennington, a sophomore Sports Management major. "It's going to be a transition from being in the classroom and spring ball to being at the house and doing it online. Time management will definitely be key with that."