This article is a part of The S&B’s Anniversary Project. See the entire project here.
Classes, parties, bonfires, meals – here are some snapshots of Grinnellians’ much-sooner-than-anticipated last moments in person together during the 2019-20 school year.
Grill haul
Paige Oamek and Maggie Coleman, both `20, sit at a picnic table on Cleve Beach enjoying drinks from The Spencer Grill on Tuesday, March 10. After the announcement that campus would be closing, the Grill was constantly busy throughout the week, emptying its inventory as students used up the Dining Dollars they’d planned on spending the rest of the semester.
Frisbee group hug
Erin Ritter `22, Grace Duffy `22, Eva Gemrich `20, Mia Overvoorde `23 and Jin Komerska `20 (left to right), members of the “Grinneleanor Roosevelts” women’s ultimate frisbee team, share a group hug on Mac Field.
Hanging outside Read
Lila Podgainy, Lucy Polyak, Elise Beukelman, Elle Lewis-Eme, Kate Guiney and Julia Tlapa (left to right), all `23, spend time together on the lawn outside of Read Hall on March 10, the day of the announcement. “I grabbed a blanket from my room and texted a bunch of my friends that I just wanted to physically be in the same space as them because being alone with the news just didn’t feel right,” wrote Polyak.
WebEx training
Professor Mirzam Perez and IT Training Specialist Ivy Schuster lead a remote teaching training session for language professors on Friday, March 13 in a HSSC classroom.
Social distance hug
Abby Frerick and Maya Dru, both `21, adapt their goodbye hug to be socially distanced, the first of many social accommodations to the new and unknown COVID-19 safety protocols.
Last baseball scrimmage
The baseball team poses for a group photo at a final scrimmage to say goodbye to the fourth-years on the team, whose final season was cut short by the closing of campus.
Farm House bonfire
On Wednesday, March 11, the day after the evacuation was announced, students opt out of studying for midterms to attend a bonfire in the yard of Farm House. “People would walk up and hang out for a bit, then keep walking through town,” wrote Emma Schaefer `23. “I was saying goodbyes to friends and also meeting people I’d never talked to before, and despite the frustration and sadness of having to leave campus, I was grateful it was at least bringing people together more than usual.”
Soviet Food Culture class
Professor Todd Armstrong’s “Soviet Food Culture” class gathers for their final in-person meeting on Monday, March 9 over a meal prepared in the Marcus Family Global Kitchen. “It will remain one of my favorite gatherings of students – but it was also a difficult one for me, because as chair of the faculty, I was not unaware of the impending March 10 announcement,” wrote Armstrong. “I couldn’t share that information, of course, as much of the conversation that evening involved speculation about our response to the unfolding crisis.”
Dorm selfie
Mary Binzley `22, McKenna Doherty `22 and Jeremy Andrew `21 (left to right) take a final group mirror selfie next to a foreboding “Share the air” poster on Saturday, March 14.
Theatre House party
Students involved in theatre and dance join together for a final party hosted by fourth-years living at the off-campus “Theatre House” on Thursday, March 12.
Study break
Jackson Schulte `20, Ingrid Meulemans `22, Hannah Agpoon `22 and Noa Goldman `22 (left to right) pose for a photo outside of Bucksbaum on one of their last days together, Thursday, March 12.
Last D Hall meal
Nick Cardenas, Theo Dietz-Green, Elisabeth Kille, Kana Corley, Sunny North, Tashanna Johnson and Ella Unal (left to right), all `23, share a meal together in the Dining Hall for one of the final days it was open for non-distanced in-person dining.
High Street
Sean Richardson, Jack Gillespie, Antarah Chopra, Samantha Reid, Ryan Jungers and Dan Pocklington (left to right), all `23, pose for a photo at one of the last High Street parties on Wednesday, March 11.
A prayer for safety
Maya Dru `21 holds a Havdalah prayer, a ceremony marking the end of Shabbat, with her friends on Sunday, March 15. “I asked everyone to contribute something to this altar as an offering for safety, as a way to mark the closing of the week and life on campus,” wrote Dru.
Cleve Beach concert
Emma Schaefer `23 and friends gather on Cleve Beach to spend some time singing together before saying their goodbyes on Saturday, March 14. As people walked past, they joined in and a group started forming. “It felt like we were appreciating one another even more than usual, not knowing when we’d all be together again,” wrote Schaefer. “It truly felt like the end of the world and we were relishing the joy of being with each other one last time.”
