For some Mercer students their previous year at college was entirely virtual. Now that in-person classes are being offered for this fall semester, Mercer has second year students who have never spent a minute on campus, like me.
After a year of college spent entirely online, I was thrilled to attend my classes in person. Although face to face does pose significant risks when CDC guidelines are unattended to, learning in person on the West Windsor campus has proven to be beneficial so far.
The campus itself is a commodity that students can use to their advantage. The design of the school is most ingenious. There are interconnected hallways allowing students to travel from almost every building without having to step outside. This makes for an easy commute to and from class.
The first thing that grabbed my full attention on the campus was the study space inside of the Student Center building. The newly renovated portion on the second floor creates a futuristic and vibey feeling of modernity, almost like being in a Starbucks or Apple store, but better.
Ceiling lights form together to create simple geometric patterns. The wallpaper is abstract and fun to gaze at. The carpet is patterned to catch the eye, and furnishings look like they’re straight out of 2025, all of which are colored in a complimentary palette that ties the whole space together with a playfulness that just has to be seen in person.
While the spaces for study provide students with fun areas to congregate and mingle. Other aspects of being in person can also be beneficial.
The advantages of physical classroom interactions even behind masks make for a more realistic college experience than is possible online. While my online classes did have some positive traits like time flexibility, they could not provide the same nurturing and intellectual environment that Mercer has to offer when on campus.
Seeing friends, professors, and faculty in real life adds to Mercer’s magnificent aura of diversity and inclusion. Being on campus with peers, and physically enjoying time together creates a sense that some limitations of our pandemic predicament have been lifted.
However, certain limitations still exist for individual safety which we should stay mindful of. Masks, social distancing, and the vaccine are helping to slow the spread of coronavirus, but students on campus are still getting sick.
Safety measures like antibacterial tape on most door handles, and our janitorial team who disinfects the classrooms between usage create an atmosphere of caution. But it is clear even with these security measures that we cannot stop the spread of the virus entirely unless everyone is on the same page.
Some students attending classes in person are more susceptible than others to contracting covid, but aren’t able to do online only classes.
As a community college we need to focus on the bigger picture. Everyone should do their part in keeping Mercer safe which means wearing a mask while on campus, filling out the symptom tracker form honestly, social distancing whenever possible and, if you wish, (although not mandated by Mercer) getting vaccinated.
If we all do our part in following Mercer’s guidelines, attending in person can continue to be a positive experience for all students on campus. Everyone in person should feel comfortable enough to relax in the communal study spaces, in the new funky furniture, and outside in the great-wide-open quad.
