Coronavirus: USI senior remains positive despite 'loss' of final semester
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — With the recent transition to only-online classes for the remaining semester, University of Southern Indiana senior Ian Graves said he and his friends are "discouraged" by the move.
Last week USI announced the suspension of in-class instruction through at least April 6 due to precautions concerning COVID-19. And Tuesday the school announced the remainder of the semester would be online only.
Graves said he will be losing more than just access to campus grounds.
"My thing is, I don't really know how that's going to work with my schedule because a lot of my classes are senior-based, like presentations and projects," Graves said. "So, if we can't have access to stuff, then how is that going to work?"
Between taking senior-level coursework and his roles as a student-athlete and campus leader, Graves said last week marked the first sign of a potentially disappointing end to his and others' final semester.
When he first heard the news, Graves said he and his roommates were initially excited because of the extension of Spring Break.
"That's lit," he said were his initial thoughts.
But after hearing other ways students and faculty will be impacted by the in-class suspensions, his initial excitement was short-lived.
While Graves understands the university's precautions, the thought of missing his final campaign on the university track team and possibly USI's Spring Commencement ceremony is frustrating.
Graves said the majority of his classmates are also saddened by the school's cancellations and uncertain how their final semester may turn out.
"I know me, my roommates and a bunch of people doing athletics feel we just lost our last season," he said. "And as far as commencement, it's just like 'Dang, if I don't walk then I did these four years for what?' It's kind of like the big end-goal."
But despite his own apprehensions, Graves said he and his friends are focused on remaining positive in light of the recent cancellations — and those that may come.
"I know for most, as long as we get the degree we're feeling good because we did what we needed to do," he said. "But at the same time, we just got to keep our heads up and just keep going. Graduation is still on the way, so we got to make it as best as possible."