Though Goshen College anticipated a plethora of financial impediments this semester due to COVID-19, outside funds and steady student enrollment numbers have largely mitigated these concerns. Though they still do exist. “The costs [of COVID-19] are far greater than the savings,” President Stoltzfus said. Refunding room and board expenses last semester was once such cost, as was the loss of tuition from cancelled May and summer term classes. Other major losses included the cancellation of the Performing Arts Series as well as making the decision not to rent out facilities over the summer. On a smaller scale, changes at GC...

By Kristin Jantzen • November 12, 2020 • News

At colleges and universities across the country, there are over 252,000 reported COVID-19 cases. The New York Times recorded that 80 deaths have happened at college campuses, most recently, Bethany Nesbitt, a student from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana. Goshen College’s COVID-19 cases have remained constant following the recent increase in surveillance testing. As of Nov. 11, there are nine cases in isolation and 22 quarantined individuals. This brings the cumulative positive cases to 93 since Aug. 17. The Pandemic Task Force said last week saw the lowest number of new positive cases since mid-September. This comes as Elkhart...

By Jackson Steinmetz • November 12, 2020 • News

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...

By Patrick Webb • November 5, 2020 • Features

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....

By Nick Yutzy • November 5, 2020 • News

Goshen College announced last Tuesday that international courses scheduled for this summer and May term have been canceled due to concerns with the coronavirus.  Study-Service Term programs are expected to resume in fall 2021. The courses affected by this decision are arts in London, filmmaking in Japan, hiking the Inca Trail in Peru and the summer SST units to Ecuador and Senegal.  Canceling these courses was a decision made based on four criteria: little positive movement has occurred in COVID-19 rates or changes in State Department and CDC travel restrictions at present; there is faint hope of being able to vaccinate...

By Jackson Steinmetz • October 22, 2020 • News

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...

By Nick Yutzy • October 22, 2020 • News

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...

By Patrick Webb • October 22, 2020 • Features

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 …...

By Mackenzie Miller • October 22, 2020 • Features

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...

By Zack Begly • October 22, 2020 • Features

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...

By Zack Begly • October 15, 2020 • Features

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...

By Nathan Pauls • October 15, 2020 • Features

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...

By Nick Yutzy • October 15, 2020 • News

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...

By Nick Yutzy • October 15, 2020 • News

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...

By Zack Begly • October 8, 2020 • Features

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...

By Zack Begly • October 8, 2020 • Features