COVID continues negative impacts on involvement

COVID has had many effects on the world and on our campuses. One of these effects is a change in how we view community and our sense of community.

When we were first-years, we remember this ‘collective conscience’ that everyone on campus had about what our community was and what it means. People were willing to try new things, join clubs and get to know their fellow community members.

Now, that ‘collective conscience’ seems to be gone. People keep more to themselves and to their groups and are less likely to branch out.

One of the things that we love about our community is the willingness to branch out and talk to new people and try new things. It is disheartening to see that change. We stress the importance of community, but seeing it decline feels like our school is crumbling at its foundation.

Even how we behave on campus is different. Granted, our community changes every year, but, at least in our cases, we looked to the older classes to learn what our community is about and how to treat it.

Now, we feel that it hasn’t been happening. When we were first-years, we rarely heard about dorm halls being destroyed with boards being torn down and people’s door decorations ending up on the floor. This year, we had to have meetings about not destroying the halls. This, along with other things, is a slap in the face to what our community once was.

We can also see its direct impact through the CSB rugby team, where we are both captains. The team has been around for almost 45 years, and now we can barely keep seven people on the team. That’s hardly enough to play in a sevens league during our non-regular season.

As for the coming fall, it seems almost impossible to get to our necessary 15-member team. As well as the sport itself, CSB rugby embodies decade-long traditions, Bennie empowerment and the sense of inclusion and family within the team.

It’s saddening to see our beloved club slip away as its pre-COVID members continue to graduate and rates of new members decline. The CSB rugby team has played an important role in both of our lives.

“CSB rugby was the very first thing I became involved with on campus back in 2019. The ruggers were who I looked up to, and they truly shaped my self-growth and identity. As a rising senior, all I want is to give that experience to others, but as of now it feels impossible,” Hailey Karnowski said.

I agree, all I want is for the team to grow and succeed, but it feels nearly impossible with our community the way it is now.

Part of college is trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone. We are encouraging everyone to try something new, and if you’re intrigued by our decades-long traditions, come check out rugby practice. You may just find your new passion.