By Mariah Musto, Staff Writer
All classes at Post were moved to remote instruction for a period of two weeks as of Oct. 15. University President Kimberly Cline sent out a mass email to the Post community stating that “Last weekend, a small number of positive cases were reported as a result of off-campus social gatherings that violated LIU’s Code of Conduct. Additional cases were reported over the past few days by students who were in contact with students at the gatherings. Most of these cases were contact traced back to these isolated events. Some students, who have not tested positive, have been asked to quarantine.”
There were a number of students who were required to quarantine because they had been in contact with a student who had coronavirus or tested positive themselves. These students were notified about the matter and moved into Suffolk hall to carry out their isolation.
“I didn’t prepare for quarantine,” senior psychology major Tiana Ono said. “We got the news last minute that we needed to get tested. One of our friends is an RA and she’s the one who told us that we were being put in quarantine that night so to start packing. I didn’t get a call until around 8 to 9 p.m. from someone at the school telling me to get out of the dorms. So I had a few hours to pack and grab food and stuff, everything moved very fast.”
Similar sentiments were shared by senior sports management major Emily Poole. “We did not get much time to prepare. We were told pretty late about the quarantine in a different building so we just packed essentials quickly and moved in,” Poole said.
Food is delivered to our door by resident assistants and Promise employees.
“The food is pretty basic but as an athlete it’s hard not being able to control what foods we eat,” Poole said. “We get plenty of food and snacks but the quality and healthiness is not the best but we don’t go without so that’s good.”
Both students shared that the quarantine has had a slightly positive effect on their studies. With plenty of free time and no distractions from peers or activities, they have had more time to study and do their school work. Ono has found solace in the contact and regularity that her classes offer. “Class throughout the week has been helpful since it gives me something to do,” she said. “Weekends feel very long. It also sucks that we can’t even go outside for a walk or something.”
Poole had a similar opinion of her time in quarantine. “One good thing about this quarantine is that it has been around midterms so plenty of time to study,” she said.
Poole expressed the difficulty being in isolation.
“Quarantine is a pretty big mood killer. As an international student this is not my first time doing this but it is so mentally and physically challenging,” she said. “Not having the comforts of your own room, the heat and wifi have not been working great, the air in the room gets stuffy and not getting any fresh air, a walk or exercise is so tough. My fellow quarentiners and I joke that the first few days go by slowly, a week goes by and you think ok that wasn’t too bad but by day 10 you are climbing the walls.”
Ono agreed that being alone all of the time is difficult. “My mood comes and goes. Sometimes I’m happy, sometimes I’m angry, and sometimes I want to jump out of my window. I also wish that they would let us go outside for an hour or something. It really sucks being locked up in a room for a long time.”
Ono and Poole both tested negative for coronavirus, but were required to quarantine due to being in close contact with individuals who tested positive.
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