In the early hours of Monday, Jan. 12, the residents of the Yoder halls were struck down with a plague that students have said is “worse than the Black Death.” Students complained of headaches, nausea, vomiting and a general feeling of being “in the trenches.” Students also claimed that these symptoms lasted for 24 or more hours before they were said to feel “somewhat alive.”
There are many beliefs from where this plague originated. The main theories include food poisoning, stomach bug and norovirus. However, it is believed that drinking water from the fountains found on each of the four floors of Yoder caused this plague. Despite this, one student claimed to have been encouraged to “keep drinking water” by his roommate. This student was also believed to be the one who had the illness for the longest, much to the bewilderment of the roommate.The plague is said to have originated on Yoder third. Students of this floor claimed to have experienced exclusion from their various social circles during this time. As word spread to other floors and halls, residential assistants were heard saying, “Keep it to yourselves,” and “We don’t want to be dealing with that.” And so, a standoff between Yoder third and the rest of campus began.
One student, who hadn’t eaten for three days because of this plague, claimed to “venture back into society” for the first time to satiate his hunger at the Leaf Raker. When he arrived to order his meal, he claimed that people questioned his intentions. The student claimed he was asked questions such as, “What are you doing here?” “You’re still sick right?” and being told, “You’ve gotten me sick now!”
