Hello, it’s Megan!
I hope you’re all doing well (all things considered), and staying healthy! It’s no secret that campus life has looked a lot different in the past year, and reimagining what “social” means has been a ~journey~ to say the least. Spring Semester is when we get to enjoy our campus in all its glory, and take advantage of all the outdoor spaces PLU has to offer. In the context of COVID, the outdoors offers greater real estate to gather safely, and there are multiple initiatives on campus taking advantage of this. Today, I want to share some of the opportunities for in-person connection that are available to our current students. The Student Life Centers have organized a variety of weekly events that allow students to socialize in person, with peers and other members of the PLU community.
I feel like the threshold for meeting and engaging with new people is a lot higher now than before, and although you might not feel like it’s necessary either, I know for myself that I need to actively challenge myself to socialize. Whether you resonate with that, or you’ve been looking for ways to chat and interact with others, I recommend trying out one of the events below; they’re made for you!
1) NatSci Strolls
The Department of Natural Sciences is hosting weekly walks for anyone interested. This twice-a-week walk gives people a chance to meet up in person for a casual stroll around campus. A Natural Sciences faculty member will lead the group on an easy 20-minute walk beginning at the Rieke Science Center on lower campus. Most walks feature a different guest to share their expertise with the group. We’ll stick to the same route, so you can join or leave the walk at any point along the way. Students, staff and faculty from any area of PLU are welcome to join – the more the merrier!
Schedule:Tuesdays 9:30-10amThursdays 1:30-2pm
Walk agenda:5 min – assemble between Morken and Rieke20 min – walk our loop around campus5 min – say farewell and head back to our next class/meeting/etc.
Please note that they expect everyone to wear masks
2) Study Hall in the Library
Looking for other people to study with? Join the Diversity Center for study hall in the first floor of the library! The Diversity Center is hosting a study hall every Thursday from 2:30pm-4:00pm, which gives you 1.5 hours to get some studying done -- in a social setting. Check in with the dAdvocates for a chance to win some prizes!
They will be observing the Library's COVID-19 precautions, including physical distancing, masks, and no eating.
3) Coffee Chats
The Student Life Center’s staff have organized a “coffee chats” initiative, and they want to have coffee with you! All students are invited to sign up (link above) to have coffee with a Center’s staff member, and they’ll pay! Social distancing will be observed, and gives you a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee outside – free of charge! All of the Student Life Center staff members have a short bio up on the website, and you can see whether there is anyone in particular you’d like to connect with. Again, you can schedule your coffee chat online, using the link embedded in the ‘Coffee Chats’ title!
4) Walk and Talks
Lastly, Campus Ministry offers the chance to “see a face, bump an elbow” every Thursday for in-person walks with Campus Ministry staff. The link in the title takes you to a Google Doc, which shows a full calendar for the semester. These walks are happening every Thursday at 10am, as well as other rotating times/days – so be sure to check the calendar if you’re interested! They meet outside the AUC clock tower, and there is no sign-up needed.
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