By Chloe Kline ‘21 Staff Writer

March 12 marked one year since LVC students were told to leave campus amongst rising COVID-19 cases in Lebanon County.

While there was hope that students would be able to return to campus after a few weeks of lockdown, it quickly became apparent that would not be the case. Remote learning lasted until the beginning of the fall semester, and the Class of 2020’s in-person graduation was cancelled.

Many returned to campus early in the fall, but for others, staying on campus did not seem safe. Valerie Kosson, a senior music and wellness major, was one of those students. She shared an on-campus apartment with three other friends during spring 2020 and has been learning from home since then. She says the whole experience has been frustrating and upsetting.

“The entire college experience I was hoping for was just gone in a flash,” Kosson said. “I joined a sorority and did not have any senior experiences with my sorority sisters. I was so happy to draw a good lottery number and get a nice apartment for my senior year, but I never even moved in. My roommates, who chose to go back to campus, had their senior year without me and I was very lonely. I know staying home was the right decision for me, but it was also very isolating.”

In addition to not being able to see friends and family once lockdown began, many students were unable to participate in club activities planned for late spring. Among things cancelled were Wig and Buckle’s production of The Curious Savage, the annual International Food Festival, Dutchman Day and ValleyFest weekend.

A year later, there is still no conclusive end in sight for the pandemic, but vaccine availability shows a small light in the darkness. Despite lockdown and social distancing measures still in place, LVC is planning on having many fun events this spring (following COVID-19 precautions).

There is more hope that this spring semester will be able to reach the end with in-person learning still in place.