With the new Omicron COVID–19 variant, do students feel comfortable returning to school this semester?

Social distancing and other COVID restriction explanations remain posted in the hallway of Santa Monica College's Bundy Campus in Los Angeles, on Feb 22. ( Marc Federici | The Corsair)

On March 13, 2020, COVID-19 prompted the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to close down the schools. Due to the pandemic, schools such as Santa Monica College (SMC) adapted to remote learning in 2020—21.

According to the CDC, as of March 8, 65.1 percent of the United States population is fully vaccinated which includes 75.1 percent of Americans 18 years of age or older. On Feb. 7, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will be lifting the mask mandate. Following this, L.A County chose to lift their own indoor mask mandate on March 4.

Following this announcement, on March 12, Newson declared that he will end the mask mandate for schools in California. Prior to that change, SMC had already begun to resume its on-ground courses, although in limited capacity. According to the school’s Public Information Officer Grace Smith, 15 percent of students returned to on-ground classes in the Fall 2021 semester. Those on campus over that period were required to wear masks indoors, and send proof of their vaccination to the school’s health center,

“I was super excited when I first heard that SMC was allowing on-ground classes, so I was really happy when I was able to enroll,” SMC sophomore Emily Sabinas said.

To guarantee the safety of both students and staff members, SMC requires all on-ground personnel to adhere to three main protocols to attend classes on campus. "The three big things are washing your hands, social distancing and masking," said SMC Police Department Chief Johnnie Adams.

Sabinas thought that the school’s public health protocols were adequate. “I actually think the school's requirements to regulate Covid is pretty good," said Sabinas. She believes that if SMC enforces masks and vaccination requirements, cases in the area will continue to decrease.

SMC sophomore Anna Arutyunyan had a different opinion when it came to SMC’s regulations for students on campus. “I mean, requirements are ok, but it’s weird for me if there will no longer be a mandate in L.A. County to wear masks," she said.

Over the semesters of online learning, Sabinas has become familiar with its remote infrastructure. “The only fear I had was wondering if I was going to fail my classes because it’s not online anymore. Everything will have to be in person like the exams and the quizzes and the speeches,” she said.

After almost a year and a half of virtual learning, it became difficult for Sabinas to get situated in a classroom setting.

As more students begin to enroll on-ground, SMC is scheduling more activities on campus. “We are now planning a college transfer fair on the twenty eighth," said Chief Adams.

Chief Adams shared that representatives from over 200 colleges will attend the fair on March 28, and SMC will enforce strict masking guidelines.

According to Chief Adams, SMC "plans to have a discussion" on moving forward with the school’s COVID-19 mask mandate. The school has implemented new public health measures for the Spring 2022 semester, requiring all students to submit proof that they received a COVID-19 booster vaccination.

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