Students return to campus from across the world. The Hibou editors interviewed a number of students, wanting to know how they are feeling. Do you feel safe? What are your concerns for the future? 

Just last week, France reported 13, 498 new cases in one day—more than ever was reported during confinement. Although all of us shared in the collective experience of a pandemic, students return to campus with contrasting mentalities. No one seems to know how we should behave in a city that has thousands of new cases every day. These numbers can partly be attributed to the increased accessibility of tests in France; however, it is quite obvious that we are not in the clear yet. Just three days ago, Sciences Po announced it would shut down for two weeks. 

Some students at AUP are behaving carefully and others are not. Some are practicing social distancing and only seeing a few people; others, as Instagram posts suggest, are hosting parties and going to raves. More than  a few  students with whom we have spoken voiced concern that student leaders on campus are not modeling caution. We reached out to a Student Government Association leader to ask what he thinks about the return to campus. “I feel really good about coming back to campus,” he said. “I just try to be as responsible as possible whenever I go out or hang out with friends. It's been challenging, but I know it's for the greater good.” The problem is, we all have different understandings of what it means to be as “responsible as possible.”

What is our moral obligation as students? As the school re-opens, there are already several students who report symptoms, some of whom are orientation leaders. During this confusing time that is characterized as “post-confinement,” we asked some of our Hibou editors as well as other students some questions about how they are feeling as they return to campus. – The Editors of Hibou 

 How do you feel about coming back to campus?

 “I am beyond excited to be coming back to school. I think this will make me appreciate school even more than before Covid. After 6 months of not knowing what tomorrow will look like we will have some sort of ‘normal,’ a schedule and regimen.” – Alex Lane 

“I am not thrilled to wear a mask at all times but it is a small price to pay to keep everyone safe while enjoying in-person classes. This is a time of extreme change and adaptation and I am looking forward to seeing the ways I, and AUP, will grow because of it.” – Savie Newton 

“I am so happy to be back. However, my joy is hindered by the omnipresence of the global pandemic. I do not regret coming back to Paris as months home reminded me of how lucky I am to be a student in Paris. I had to move out of my apartment and that meant I no longer could live with my friends and roommates. Now, I live in a small studio apartment and the looming return to online classes and perhaps another confinement adds another layer of stress.” – Chloe Denelsbeck 

“I’m excited to be back in school, but I’m a little hesitant to come back to campus. Throughout the summer, AUP students have been approaching social distancing with varying degrees of seriousness, and I’m a little nervous to be in close contact with people who spent the summer disregarding COVID regulations. I spent the summer mostly isolated in Japan. My parents and I are all in the high-risk category, so we thought it would be safest if we stayed apart. It was really difficult to feel separated from the majority of my family and friends. It’s really comforting to be back with my peers, in our close-knit community at AUP.  I considered staying in Japan for the semester, but the time difference made it difficult to keep up with classes. I’m glad I came back, but I’m proceeding with caution.” – Jasmine Cowen 

“I’m excited to be back on campus but also am nervous about how long it will last. So far it doesn’t seem like AUP students have the self-discipline that would be required to prevent cases and keep the school open.” – Chloe Fearey 

After months of quarantine and for many moving back in with parents, students are understandably restless and eager to return to school. Every student we talked to expressed excitement about returning to campus, although several felt simultaneously concerned. Many have found their life in Paris quite different to how they left it.   

How do you feel about navigating the social aspects of going to school during a pandemic? 

“I feel confused. In the US I felt like making socially responsible decisions was more up to individuals, because governments were absent. I tried to be as responsible as possible, especially since I was living with my parents. In Paris, I feel that I have more trust in the government – so I just follow, almost blindly, what the government says is acceptable. I have not been as cautious in social situations here because I am around other young people. This is something I am not necessarily proud of but think it will be easier once my focus is on school.” – Alex Lane

“I am quite nervous about it. AUP doesn’t have a traditional university campus, so clubs, the Amex, and just being in the buildings are important to feel connected. I am concerned we will lose the amazing community we have created. I have had issues with feeling as though COVID is less of an issue in France and therefore, I can see my friends without taking all of the same precautions that I would in the states. I am worried that I won’t meet new people because by adhering to all the safety guidelines, I would have to keep my circle small with people that are doing the same.” – Savie Newton 

“What is acceptable? Mask on, mask off? Can I take a sip of water? Can I trust that my friends are being as cautious as I am? The pandemic has made all relationships far more complicated. My close friends and I had a serious conversation about our boundaries. It was a 45-minute Teams call that ended with a few of us crying after hanging up. We had to pick which friends we would see with masks on and that meant that we would not be able to see another one of our friends because they had an underlying health condition. I have friends going to music festivals and others who only go to the grocery store and maybe a park. If I see the friends who go to music festivals without masks I might as well have gone to the festivals. The pandemic requires us to reconsider our friend groups and how we will interact within them. Behind health concerns, I think the social challenges are the most difficult part about returning to campus.” – Chloe Denelsbeck 

“I’m immunocompromised, so I’m constantly scanning the room to see if the people around me are respecting COVID regulations. It can be awkward to tell someone to pull up their mask or to maintain a distance from me, but I know that my condition requires me to remain on the offensive. I’m trying to stay really cognizant of my social bubble and have ongoing conversations with my friends about our social interactions. I feel lucky to have a close group of friends who have been respectful and understanding with social distancing. I’m working as a student advisor this semester, so I’ve already had interactions on campus with other advisors and the incoming students. It’s clear that some people don’t feel at risk and are acting a little recklessly. It’s frustrating to see people wearing their masks as chin straps and congregating in groups. I wish more people were acknowledging that in a small community like AUP, we all hold individual responsibility to keep our university safe and open. As a student advisor, I want to make the incoming freshman feel welcome, but when I see on their Instagram that they have spent the summers at house parties and proms, it really makes me reconsider how safe we really are.” – Jasmine Cowen 

“School hasn’t even started, and I have already found it difficult to keep my bubble small. Even though I hang out with only a few people on a regular basis, some of those people have been in densely packed social situations that I wouldn’t feel comfortable putting myself in – but seeing that person is essentially exposing myself to those things. It’s difficult to know where to draw the line and it’s hard to tell someone that you can’t hang out with someone because you think what they have been up to is irresponsible. I get the sense that people think they can do anything because they’re not in America, but that’s not true at all. When I see people going to big parties and raves, it’s pretty shocking and frustrating. It messes with everyone else’s chances of being able to have an in-person campus.” – Chloe Fearey 

From living in 9 square-meter apartments to spending most of the lockdown in total solitude, students have managed to cope with Covid. Going forward, many are unsure about what sacrifices they should make to help keep  cases down at AUP. Fears of loneliness and desire to meet new people hold them back from living as cautiously as they want to be. They are aware of the sense of immorality that is often attributed to them, but also feel that the pandemic has already taken so much from their freedom. However, the safety threshold for students varies widely. Some people, like Chloe Denelsbeck, worry about whether it would be acceptable for them to lower their mask to take a sip of water; others don’t think twice before going to large gatherings where they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people, who are often unmasked. 

How would you feel if the government instituted re-confinement? 

“I would be disheartened if we had to go through another confinement period, but I also think it would provide some ease of mind. The cases will go back down, and France will be safer. I am fortunate to live in a great apartment with a lovely roommate who I think could make re-confinement bearable, maybe even enjoyable?” – Alex Lane 

“I would be a bit disappointed because I love to explore Paris, but I wouldn’t feel too stressed. I know AUP is better prepared and equipped to go online if necessary and that I have everything that I would need within 1km if we are put under strict quarantine again. I also have a very positive living situation and the last confinement only brought my roommate and me closer, so I can only imagine our friendship after another confinement. I would also be relieved. I understand that life needs to continue, and businesses need to reopen to stay afloat; however, until there is a vaccine, reopening will cause an increase in cases. Coming from the US, it was frustrating to be under quarantine for several months and then people grew tired of it and decided not to follow the guidelines - erasing all the progress we made over those several months. A re-confinement may be the best course for public health.” – Savie Newton 

“A potential re-confinement is very concerning. I live in a 9m2apartment and know that I will struggle if I am forced to stay in it for most of the day. Luckily, I have made arrangements to move-in with my friends if there is a re-confinement. I have been prioritizing my mental health which would include putting myself in the best position possible if there is re-confinement.” – Chloe Denelsbeck 

“Coming back to Paris for the semester, I made sure I was comfortable with the idea of a re-confinement. I like my new apartment a lot better than the one I was in during lockdown, so I would be less stressed out if there was a second one. I’ve spent the majority of the time since March alone, so I’m more at ease with solitude now.The first lockdown was jarring because it was such a drastic shift to needing attestations to walk around and a stronger police presence all over Paris. In the scenario of a second confinement, I think I would be more at ease as we have already experienced it.” – Jasmine Cowen

Do you feel particularly vulnerable for any reasons? (For instance, some students are worried about having a lack of family or support, or have underlying health conditions. Others are still grieving.) 

“I feel lucky and thankful that I do not have any underlying health conditions that could cause me to be at serious risk from Covid-19. I do feel it is hard to be so far from family. Currently my brother has Covid back in the US, so I have witnessed how isolating it can be when you are on a college campus in quarantine.” – Anonymous 

“I experienced loss during the confinement and am definitely still grieving which is once again why I am prioritizing my mental health. The potential of a re-confinement looms over our heads but it has encouraged me to be more forgiving with myself and prioritize what is most important to me.” – Chloe Denselsbeck 

How do you feel your experience this year will be different to those going to university in the US?

“I feel much more optimistic about going to university in France in comparison to the US. I have much more trust in the French government and the French health system than those of the US. I feel safer here. I feel that we can live relatively normal lives with the minor inconvenience of wearing a mask. In the US, the pandemic has become a political issue. Students in the US have to be their own police much more than here.” – Alex Lane 

“The size of classes at AUP has its benefits, one of them being that we are allowed to come back to campus and have in-person classes. My friends in the US are taking their courses online with the exception of one lab class. Some were allowed back to campus, so they are able to partake in club activities and see their friends if they are six feet apart. Others are confined to their bedrooms. I feel as though I will be better connected to the world and have the chance to grow independently. Most US schools were unsure how to proceed due to the ever-changing regulations for each state. At AUP, there is an understanding of a plan b and a more stable government making decisions.” – Savie Newton

“There would be a lot less flexibility if I were a university student in the US. My siblings are students there and one is taking all online classes and the other has hybrid classes. The universities tried desperately to control their student body to prevent the spread of coronavirus but were unsuccessful. I am hoping that because we are in France and at a small university that we will not have to go online or at least not for the entirety of the semester. I am placing hope in the French government to take the necessary actions to prevent the closure of universities. My faith in the United States government has been reduced to a small sliver and at this moment I am grateful to be a student in France and not in the US.” – Chloe Denelsbeck

This societal moment is showing how young people are willing to make changes in their life in order to help one another and reduce the spread of Covid-19. Still, some are choosing not only to be negligent in the way they engage in their social life, but are unabashedly posting it on social media for hundreds of people to see. The harsh divide in how AUP students are handling this rentrée increases uncertainty of whether we’ll stay open. As school starts, all of us have questions about how the year will unfold. Here at Hibou, we encourage you all to approach the coming weeks with compassion and thoughtfulness. More now than ever, our actions are not just a personal choice but forces that can deeply affect the lives of others.