Page 6 - MGATODAY_Spring_2021

students, employees, and visitors. Facilities staff
reconfigured classrooms and many common areas
to make social distancing easier and set up regular
schedules of deep cleaning. The University estab-
lished a tracking system so that students, faculty,
and staff could self-report COVID cases (as of
late March 2021, about 460 members of the MGA
community had reported they had contracted the
virus) and compiled an extensive list of health
and safety resources.
Among other things, the University
established an initiative called BeWell@MGA to
provide students with additional mental health
resources to cope with stress related to COVID Bingo in the
and other challenges, including the nation’s high game room
of the Macon
levels of political and social strife. Campus
Meanwhile, MGA’s Office of Student Life
moved forward with steadfast purpose. Even
before students returned to the campuses in
fall 2020, Student Life staffers tapped into their
imaginations to continue providing the kinds of
activities that are pivotal to University life.
“We never allowed ourselves to think,
‘Because of this pandemic we can’t offer students
an engaging experience,’” said Devereaux Lindsey,
Student Life coordinator on the Macon Campus.
“Initially, the main thing we did is let students
know we’re still here and making programming
available to them.”
After some brainstorming, Student Life
coordinators planned and rolled out a series of
virtual events. Online trivia, bingo, and other
activities that gave students a chance to win Following University system mandates for mask-wearing and
social distancing, the office of student Life and other MGa
prizes, such as t-shirts and instant pots that were departments eased back into sponsoring in-person events and
giveaways for students in fall 2020 and spring 2021. the student
mailed to them, proved popular. Many students Life office, various academic clubs, and other organizations
enjoyed a DJ streaming live music over social continued to offer virtual activities as well.
media and posted photos of their animal com-
panions for a “Pets of MGA” showcase. Others
enjoyed streaming events with a magician, mind simply do not want to engage, which is okay.
reader, and caricature artist. We’ve also had students reach out to us saying
On the flip side, Netflix watch parties, Zoom they are so happy we still do things because it
cooking demonstrations, and Tik Tok posting gives them a good distraction from the problems
challenges drew little participation. we’re all facing.”
“One thing I’ve learned is to manage my In fall 2020, Student Life began easing back
expectations,” Lindsey said. “This experience has into in-person activities that take place with all of
impacted people differently and sometimes they the recommended health and safety measures.

6 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY