Out-of-state students return to St. John’s for two-week quarantine
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Staff from New York Presbyterian Queens administered COVID tests to students arriving back at campus Aug. 1. Photo courtesy of St. John’s University
By Rachel Vick
St. John’s University senior Kharan Pierce wasn’t sure what to expect when she made her way back to campus earlier this month.
Pierce, a resident advisor in a freshman dormitory, was glad to return to school after in-person classes ended abruptly in March, while COVID-19 surged across Queens. But she had several concerns about the plan to stop the spread of the illness as students from around the country, and world, converged on the Hillcrest campus.
“The plans that the school has put in place seem very vague,” Pierce said.
St. John’s has not fully communicated safety protocols with the RAs and an initial email from the administration left her with several questions, she said. “That’s frustrating because we're a link to the portion of the student body that has to rely on the institution,” she said.
Students from the 35 states included in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s must-quarantine order began moving into the Hillcrest campus on Aug. 1, but Pierce said she and her coworkers have struggled to answer questions from the new freshmen, or others living on their dorm floors.
“I think the biggest thing is that in times of uncertainty people look for the leaders to make a decision and a statement,” she said. “It's been done, but it's only been done like 80 percent — it doesn't seem complete.”
St. John’s is banking on an aggressive testing initiative to prevent COVID-19 from spreading among staff and students.
Each student is immediately tested for COVID-19 when they arrive at school and will stay in their dorms and residences for two weeks, according to guidance included on the St. John’s website.
University spokesperson Brian Browne said the school trusts students to comply with the quarantine and distancing regulations.
“We’re not watching on closed circuit cameras, this isn’t a police state,” he said, adding that students better understand the consequences of the illness more than six months into the crisis. “Students are a little more savvy now — everyone wants to take precautions.”
“There’s a general understanding and acceptance that this is something that they’re going to have to do.”
St. John’s officials are also preparing for the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 in New York City again cancelling in-person classes. The school designated a residence hall for future isolation and is prepared to switch completely to virtual learning “on a dime,” Browne said.
As students complete their two-week quarantine, the school is working to keep them engaged, so “they’re not just binge-watching” TV inside their rooms, he added.
An initiative known as the Johnnies Care Buddy program connects students with university or residence hall staff to ease the transition. Virtual program offerings like workout classes and career workshops were designed to keep quarantining students engaged, Browne said.
“It's not the ideal situation, especially for young adults, but this is the situation they're in and we’re trying to do the best we can to support them,” Browne added.
Some St. John’s students say they are keeping a positive outlook, despite the restrictions and bizarre beginning of the semester.
“I am so excited to be here,” journalism student Leah Minerve said in a statement on the school’s website. “From the moment we arrived on Saturday, everyone on campus was incredibly helpful. It was very well organized, too.”
But Pierce, the RA returning for her senior year, said she is wary of what’s to come.
“If individuals take extra steps to be considerate first and foremost then things will probably work out,” she said.
The pandemic will also change how she interacts with other students, she said.
“I probably won’t do my open door policy, and that hurts my heart because I love my residents, but I don't want anyone to get sick.”
Additional reporting by Teresa Mettela.
