On March 13, 2020, Catawba College President Brian Lewis sent out an email to students, parents, and faculty that Catawba College will be sending everyone home due to COVID-19. “Classes will be delivered remotely from March 23 until April 12,” the email read from President Lewis. “We will continually evaluate the situation and we will provide at least a one-week notice to all members of the college community if a change is needed.” 

Unfortunately, students were not able to return April 12 as planned. On March 27, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced that a state-wide “stay at home” order would be in effect starting Monday night, March 27, and for an additional 30 days after that. Following this announcement, President Lewis sent another email informing the Catawba community that classes will remain online for the remainder of the semester. “We will extend our Academic Continuity Plan and continue to offer classes remotely or via other delivery methods for the duration of the spring semester,” wrote President Lewis. “All students should continue to watch for communications from their professors for details on their remote learning plans.”

Although Catawba’s campus remains open, all students and non-essential employees were asked to return home. Students who had chosen to remain on campus prior to President Lewis announcing that students will not be coming back, were asked to leave no later than March 30. In addition, students who left their belongings on campus were asked to remove their belongings by the end of the semester. “It was hard to have to pack up and leave so fast,” says sophomore Jennifer Chamber, who was staying on campus as she is from Ireland. “It was stressful.”

Speaking of stressful, the Catawba Community was informed on March 30 that an individual on Catawba’s campus tested positive for COVID-19. “College officials confirmed with a member of our campus community late this morning that they tested positive for COVID-19,” President Lewis confirmed. “The individual is currently in isolation off-campus.” This announcement comes just days after President Lewis sent out an email ensuring the Catawba community that someone testing positive for the virus was just a rumour. 

Sadly, many of Catawba’s most loved and cherished traditions have been canceled due to the pandemic including commencement. Seniors will still be able to participate in a commencement ceremony later in the year, however, it will not be the same. As this is a scary and challenging time for all, President Lewis is trying to keep the Catawba communities spirits up. “Together, we know our community will overcome every obstacle ahead and will have much to celebrate in the near future,” says Lewis. “In the words of the Alma Mater:

‘Rich and glorious be thy future,

World of influence wide,

And with us who bear thy culture,

May thy precepts and spirit abide.’”