Utah State students are on their way home

By Emma Feuz

The lawn outside of several dormitories on the north side of Utah State University’s campus was a chaotic scene on Monday with some students playing sand volleyball while others were moving full couches onto trucks.

Utah State students are terminating their on-campus housing contracts early and returning to their permanent homes despite being encouraged to stay on-campus a week earlier.

The sudden surge of students moving out came after a Monday morning email sent to all students as a follow-up from President Noelle Cockett’s Saturday evening message. The email strongly encouraged all students, “to leave your on-campus housing and return to your permanent home.”

This change came as a complete reversal from the previous week. Then, students were encouraged to stay put as campus resources would still remain open and class labs would carry on.

“It’s crazy. It’s different every single day,” said Kiki Saker, a resident assistant for Rich Hall at the Student Living Center. 

So far, Saker said, she has moved three residents out of the hall. 

“But within the next couple of days or in a week,” she said, “almost everyone from my two floors are going to be cleared and gone.”

During the moving process, many students offered helping hands as the short notice and strongly encouraged isolation practices prevented families from coming to help.

Housing will still remain open for students who do not have any place to go. 

“We want students to be where they and their families feel the students are safest,” said Amanda DeRito, the director of crisis communication for Utah State. “As students leave, we may move some around to improve social distancing, and students who are ill should self-isolate to prevent spread.”

According to the email, those who do choose to leave will be offered refunds for their rent and parking pass. Additionally, out-of-state students who are seeking Utah residency will not be penalized for moving back home.

There were many sad goodbyes in recent days between friends parting ways two months earlier than expected. There will be more farewells to come.  

But Saker was already hoping for better times to come.

“It will all be fine eventually,” she said. “It will all bounce back.”