TDP People
Photo courtesy of Jake Labus
The phone rings several times before Jake Labus’s voice is heard on the other line. He is calling in from Indianapolis, stepping out from his work day to talk about the ways his life has changed this semester. Labus is a junior at DePauw who chose not to enroll in classes this semester.
When he heard DePauw’s announcement to make Junior and Senior courses remote this semester, Labus knew that this would be the optimal time to pursue other interests.
“I had a very roundabout way of getting this internship. When DePauw didn’t invite back the upperclassmen it was a Saturday. That Monday, I reached out to my Management Fellows advisor to set something up. Since we weren’t going to be on campus anyway, I felt like this was the perfect time to reevaluate,” Labus said.
It’s no secret that navigating life in college can be difficult, and for students with disabilities, the higher education experience brings on an entirely new set of obstacles. Seeking assistance for these kinds of challenges in an unfamiliar environment can be intimidating, especially in light of the changes brought on by COVID-19.
However, the director of Depauw’s Student Accessibility Services, Meggan Johnston, assures that through this difficult time, she’s here to make the transition a lot smoother for the students she works with.
“My number one job in all that I do is to be an advocate for access,” Johnston said.
Ian S. Brundige/The DePauw
Despite the levels of accommodation and work from faculty and staff, learning amidst COVID-19 has still proven a struggle for many students.
“Even though I’m a senior I was more stressed about classes than when I was a freshman. I think because the format is so different everyone is still figuring out how to learn effectively,” Ellie Ball, a remote senior, said.
Outside of academics, students have also found ways to maintain relationships through student organizations, such as DePauwltimate, the ultimate frisbee club run by senior Drew Cob. The club was able to hold their first meeting this week.
“What I love about DePauw is the space there is to host these kinds of distanced activities, such as the intramural fields that the club hasn’t even utilized yet,” Cobb said.
Other organizations, like the student-run a capella group, DePauwcapella, has not been able to meet due to the COVID-19 guidelines.
“Singing has a higher COVID-risk than just talking so there are special guidelines for it. If we wanted to practice and perform, we would have to buy these special masks that allow us to sing safely. I also think we would only be able to sing in a circle facing away from each other,” junior Cory Steele said.
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