COVID-19
November 5, 2020
Students aid COVID-19 efforts
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, members of the Goshen College student body are giving their time to help with efforts. The Center for Healing and Hope, a nonprofit formed in 1999 to help uninsured, vulnerable and underserved neighbors in the Goshen area, has been assisted by students as they offer free COVID-19 testing to those uninsured. Rachel Versluis, a senior nursing major, first found out about options to volunteer when she received an email earlier this year. The Center for Healing and Hope trained her in May to do antibody tests, and she began volunteering. “I’m still doing it occasionally...
November 5, 2020
Surveillance testing begins on campus
This article was published on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. For the most up-to-date GC COVID-19 numbers, visit the GC COVID-19 Data Dashboard. As new positive COVID-19 cases on campus have trended downward in the last two weeks, the Pandemic Task Force has rolled out their plan to bring testing to student groups and student-athletes in an attempt to stay ahead of any uptick in cases before Thanksgiving. This news comes just as Elkhart County saw its highest number of new positive cases peak at 234 on Tuesday, Nov. 3. In an initial email from the Pandemic Task Force on Oct....
October 22, 2020
COVID-19 housing near empty after record high week
Kenwood House holds zero COVID-19 positive students following a week where its max capacity for students in isolation was reached. Vacant apartments and quarantine spaces in the Miller dormitory are also becoming more available as the number of positive cases on campus declines. After a record high 22 people were reported to be in isolation last Wednesday, Oct. 17, Goshen College saw a decrease in new COVID-19 cases in the last seven days. The spread of the coronavirus continued, however, as 15 new cases were reported between students and faculty, bringing the cumulative number on campus since Aug. 17 to...
October 22, 2020
Without RFC: How are students working out?
When the Recreation-Fitness Center closed for additional COVID-19 housing last week, members of the Goshen College campus were forced to find new ways to continue exercising. Some had already made adjustments when COVID-19 first hit. Kyle Hufford, associate professor of communication, used to go to the RFC four to five hours a week. Since March, that number has dropped down to one to two hours. Hufford alternated between cardio, such as the “rowing machine, elliptical and using the weight room,” he said. Hufford often worked out on weekdays when he had night classes. “But I really haven’t been super comfortable...
October 22, 2020
The Quaranzine documents COVID-19 through art
After several nights of coronavirus-related insomnia, Anna Trella Ruth brought The Quaranzine to life. Ruth, who finds inspiration in the pairing of art and the written word, found herself both sleep-deprived and curious about how people were spending their time and what they were feeling or thinking as the world was shutting down back in March. “I often make art in reaction to stress and change,” Ruth said. “One morning after several nights of very little sleep I drew a little comic … I thought I might post it on Instagram, where I share a lot of my work …...
October 22, 2020
On COVID-19 a conversation with Dr. Barbara Meyer
The pandemic has had one constant: change. Dr. Barbara Meyer is the liaison between Goshen Family Physicians and GC. Dr. Meyer speaks about how COVID-19 is affecting us all as it continues to change. What are some things students can do to stay healthy as the weather changes? BM: Washing your hands with pretty much any good soap for 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer that includes at least 60% alcohol is pretty effective. Wearing a mask and standing six feet from people is effective and being outdoors is probably eight times safer than being indoors in terms of...
October 15, 2020
How does contact tracing work at Goshen College?
There is more to contact tracing than filling out Goshen College’s COVID-19 reporting form. Behind the scenes, Kevin Miller, lead contact tracer; Beka Prince, events office coordinator; and Mara Beck, student involvement coordinator, are busy keeping track of those in quarantine, isolation and those still awaiting results. Currently, there are 109 individuals who fall under one of these categories. But how does contact tracing really work at Goshen College? An individual first fills out the COVID-19 reporting form and receives a call from Kevin Miller who then passes information about the individual to either Prince or Beck. “All positive cases...
October 15, 2020
‘It costs nothing to care’ – For the Record
I’m mad. Shocking, I know. For anyone who knows me well, it’s not an emotion that I outwardly express very often. But here I am, writing my first For the Record editorial about it. So why am I mad? The rising numbers of COVID-19 cases both on our campus and nationally, the lack of a fall break that is causing Goshen College students’ mental health to break, the near-impossible balancing act of the college administration to keep students both safe and happy and much, much more. I could go on, but most everything I just listed can be described by...
October 15, 2020
COVID-19 cases at GC grow to national averages
Reports from Wednesday, Oct. 7 estimate that the cumulative number of positive cases on campus has risen to 20 with eight students currently in isolation. This number is set to change as the athletic department awaits future test results. With 20 cases, the infection rate at GC has risen to the national average of 2.3%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. New cases were reported this week as winter sports teams underwent mandatory testing on Monday. A source from one of the athletic teams said they know of three teams that currently have positive cases. “All the...
October 15, 2020
COVID-19 cases spike at GC and throughout state: Student positivity rate climbs to staggering 4.1%
This article was originally published on Oct. 15, 2020. The COVID-19 case numbers in the article and photo above have been updated as of Oct. 17, 2020. The upward trend of positive COVID-19 cases on Goshen College’s campus continued last week as the cumulative number of positive cases among students and employees surged to 43 (47 as of Oct 17). At the moment, there is no current timeline for when classes could move fully online, however the Pandemic Task Force continues to reassess in their weekly meetings, Miller said. “Based on the numbers of people and the networks that are...
October 8, 2020
On-campus clinic takes a shot at protecting all
As the sniffles of flu season approach, Goshen College is looking to combat sickness. During the month of October, Goshen College is providing flu shots to students and employees on campus in the Koinonia Room in the Church-Chapel every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. While this is not the first flu shot clinic Goshen College has hosted, it is as important as ever to get a shot, according to Kevin Miller, lead campus contact tracer and Pandemic Task Force coordinator. “We’re encouraging everyone to get a flu shot this fall to prevent flu cases. Both flu...
October 8, 2020
Cold weather will bring changes to campus
With cold weather, the days of playing spikeball on the lawn are fading quickly. Safely hanging out with friends is still possible, however. The Pandemic Task Force has encouraged students to meet each other outside so far this school year to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but the weather is changing as it gets closer to the end of the year. “Colder temperatures are definitely on the way, so we are recommending that students try to use the tents as much as possible,” said Gilberto Perez, vice president for student life and chair of the Pandemic Task Force. “Students...
October 8, 2020
Early COVID-19 communication at Goshen College receives recognition.
Based on surveys distributed earlier this spring to students, faculty and staff at 64 different colleges and universities around the country, Goshen College was deemed one of the top three schools for early COVID-19 communication. According to the survey conducted from Apr. 16 to May 5, 79% of students were generally or very satisfied with ongoing responses to COVID-19. The study, administered by The Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium, examined further questions including what stress the pandemic caused for students and faculty, as well as how the respective institution helped students and faculty through changes that took place. 64 institutions...
September 24, 2020
COVID-19 cases rise: Administration’s plan remains: ‘Stick to the Big Four’
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Goshen College Pandemic Task Force confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 that day, bringing the total to five students currently in isolation. The most recent data dashboard shows two students and one employee in isolation while 13 students and one employee in quarantine. Those numbers are set to change after learning that three of the students in quarantine tested positive. The highest case count in a week for the college regarding COVID-19 prompted the Pandemic Task Force to send a reminder email last Friday, Sept. 18 to students and faculty to keep up with the...
September 24, 2020
Nursing students reflect on hospital nights
It’s 1 a.m. You’re asleep in your bed or up finishing that one paper you knew about weeks ago but haven’t started yet. Not Lizzy or Oscar. They are at the hospital working. Lizzy Diaz and Oscar Ramirez Garcia, both senior nursing majors, are night shift workers at Goshen Hospital. “I started working the night shift in The Birthplace last August,” Diaz said. “I stayed on night shift for nine or 10 months. Now I work both days and nights. As a casual employee, I’m able to pick shifts that work for my schedule which is a huge improvement from...