As COVID-19 gripped the nation in March 2020, Athens, Georgia and the University of Georgia took every precaution necessary to protect its citizens and community. The entire city came to a standstill for weeks. Fast forward six months, and we are living in a completely different reality. COVID-19 continues to spread, but nightlife is booming. The streets of downtown are filled with people shopping, eating, drinking, and enjoying the beautiful fall weather almost every day. One thing that has yet to return to normal, though, is UGA’s campus. Despite it being relatively open, there is still a rather deserted feel when you walk through UGA’s vast campus. Students across campus discuss their differing views of participating in off campus activities compared to on campus.
The University of Georgia’s historic Chapel Bell in Athens, Georgia, on September 3, 2020, has stood in this very spot since 1913. Ringing the Chapel Bell has been a tradition of hope and excitement ever since it was moved from the roof of the chapel. Students and alumni can be found ringing the bell for accomplishments ranging from winning a football game to graduating with your doctorate degree. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the university removed the rope which aids in ringing the bell. (Photo/Mack Brown, mackbrown5890@gmail.com)
The breezeway connecting the UGA MLC and Tate student center in Athens, Georgia on September 3, 2020. The MLC was completed in 2003 and has remained a hot spot for student activity ever since. Every floor of this five story building can be found crawling with students every day of the week. Now, this once booming breeze way is seen completely empty as students retreat from campus. (Photo/Mack Brown, mackbrown5890@gmail.com)
All around UGA’s campus in Athens, Georgia signage can be seen instructing students, staff, and visitors to maintain social distancing and to always wear masks. These signs cover every building, bus stop, and walkway on campus to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but come with little enforcement. Students will be asked to leave class or the building if they refuse to wear masks, but it wasn’t always that way. When the university announced their plan to reopen for the fall 2020 semester, they initially said they would not require facemasks on campus. After much backlash the university reversed course and made face masks mandatory. (Photo/Mack Brown, mackbrown5890@gmail.com)
Jittery Joes, a once bustling center of camaraderie and group study sessions inside the Miller Learning Center, lies empty and partially blocked off on September 3, 2020, due to social distancing guidelines and students’ reluctance to meet on campus. The Jittery Joes is on the second floor and was open from the early morning hours to midnight nearly every day of the week. During the school day it was nearly impossible to find a spot unless you saw someone leaving. Now, in the wake of a pandemic, the once busy student hub is eerily quiet and almost always vacated. (Photo/Mack Brown, mackbrown5890@gmail.com)
The Tate Student Center, a large complex which houses the career center, restaurants, pool tables, and ample room to study and hangout with friends, is busy at almost all hours of the day. Now, similar to the rest of campus, you will seldom find anyone hanging out or doing homework in its looming halls. This particular hallway used to house many more chairs and benches which were oftentimes full leading students to fill in the gaps by sitting on the ground. (Photo/Mack Brown, mackbrown5890@gmail.com)
The computer wing of the third floor of the MLC in Athens, Georgia is home to over 20 study rooms and many more computer desks. Students at the University of Georgia come to study alone, meet with friends, or in groups in a quiet on campus homework haven. Just like many of the pictures above which are on campus activity hotspots, the third floor is almost completely with more than half of the desks blocked off. The study rooms now have a two person maximum with time limits as well. This is a very different sight from the norm on campus. (Photo/Mack Brown, mackbrown5890@gmail.com)
