By Hank Walter, IMU Executive Director
Since Union Board alumni are the Union’s most loyal friends, I thought you might want to know a little about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Indiana Memorial Union, IU, and our students.
Change has been rapid. On March 9, no major steps had been taken by the University or the State. Within two weeks, all classes had been moved online, University residence halls and apartments had closed (except for approximately 1,100 students who appealed to stay for various reasons), all campus events were canceled for the semester except Commencement which was postponed, and the Governor had issued an order to shelter in place. Last Thursday, similar measures were taken for the summer: all summer classes and New Student Orientation were moved online, all summer events and study abroad programs were canceled. All faculty and staff who could work from home are being strongly encouraged to do so.
Almost all the fraternity and sorority houses have closed; the few that haven’t have at most, a handful of students living in them. An unknown percentage of students are living in Bloomington in their off-campus apartments and houses. Most campus buildings require a University ID to enter, the Wells Library has closed (most services are available online), and, well, campus is very quiet. Nothing seems the same.
At the Union, we have closed the Biddle Hotel and most of the IMU to the public, with the exceptions being the Computer Lab and the seating area of Starbucks, both of which have been modified for social distancing. The only staff working on site are dedicated members of the custodial and maintenance teams. It’s quiet.
The impact of this national crisis is balanced by many normal things. The quiet in the IMU’s corridors is balanced by the noise of construction in the main dining areas of the building: the Commons, Kiva/Dunn Meadow Café, and Cafeteria/Market/Food Court (depending on your era) and the Frangipani Room. As March turns to April, the sun has returned, the pansies and daffodils have begun blooming on our beautiful campus, and classes started again, although online, after spring break yesterday.
Union Board is now meeting regularly online, starting with its first fully online regular Board meeting on March 26 during the newly created second week of spring break. Most student directors had met with their advisors and reached out to their assistant directors already that week. This Board has a unique challenge: how to build community and connections through campus programs when the overwhelming majority of students are spread around the world while planning for a fall semester that is both unclear and will be different from any before it.
New Union Board President Seth Blunt’s comments about UB’s plans are available here, but I also want to point out the impact of all of this on the individual students on the Board. Over the last three weeks, many internships, summer jobs, and study abroad programs have disappeared. Graduating seniors have lost the last six weeks of their final semester and for many even a chance to say goodbye to good friends in person, at least for now. Or more practically, they now look at a very different environment for a job search. Life has changed dramatically for them too, but in different ways than for many of us.
Many of you were on campus during other national crises or transformational periods: September 11th, the Vietnam War, the assassinations of JFK and MLK. The IMU’s social media accounts will post requests for your memories of those times on campus soon, and feel free to share your Union Board memories below or at go.iu.edu/imustory. We are at a unique point in history, though not for the first time, and I know many of you have seen Union Board regroup and move forward from difficult national crises before. I have no doubt that this Board will too.
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