Despite the gradual return of students and faculty to campus, Long Beach City College’s previously busy centers of student life, the Student Center in the Fishbowl and the Liberal Arts Library, are shadows of their former selves as students adapt to a new COVID normal.
“Before we went into the pandemic it was a lot more hectic. There were a lot more students coming into the lounge and the Fishbowl,” Vanessa Morales said, student assistant for the Student Affairs Department.
“But since the pandemic, there are fewer students on campus so there aren’t many people coming in, so it’s not so loud.” Morales said.
Student Activities Advisor Kim Hamon is not surprised by the lack of students on campus with COVID-19 still impacting people worldwide.
“There are definitely not a lot of students back on campus compared to before the pandemic, but that is something we were already expecting. I’m really excited for the fall semester because it feels like that is when things will be more lively on campus.” Hamon said.
The Fishbowl, before the COVID-19 shutdown of LBCC’s campuses, would often be filled with students studying, lounging or looking for help answering pressing questions about student life.
Now, it’s common to find the numerous individual study desks, despite being carefully spaced out, completely empty of students and the foosball table missing players.
While there might be a different atmosphere, Morales says her job mostly remains the same.
“My job has changed since I’m not helping that many students anymore, [but] I’m still doing what I did before, just a little less,” Morales said.
This help includes directing students towards the basic necessities they may need to survive day to day life.
“I’ve gotten a lot of questions about basic needs, like getting food on campus [or] transportation,” explained Morales, “There has been a shift in more students asking for resources and I guess it comes from the COVID situation or money problems.”
Julie Johnson, a Student Support Services personnel, said she’s found students are still concerned about their health safety and what changes the return to campus has in store for learning in a pandemic.
“Out of everything I’ve heard from students, it’s a lot about the safety measures on campus and how that translates to how professors will be regarding health concerns and missing class,” said Johnson.
“I do my best to help keep people safe first. I try to tell students to take their safety and health as their number one priority.” Johnson said
Prior to the shutdown, the library on the Liberal Arts Campus was similarly a go-to study spot for students seeking a calming space to focus on their classes.
But the library is now even quieter than normal, as some students choose to work off campus with COVID in mind.
“People are keeping their eye on the variants and moving in rhythm with that,” Karen Vogel, reference librarian, said, “Hopefully we’ll see things return to normal.”
It might take a while, but Vogel sees light at the end of the tunnel: “Resources are being utilized more. And more students are coming in, which is a good sign. I think it’ll be a gradual thing.”
While a robust student life may be lacking for LBCC at the moment, students still have opportunities to socialize and get involved with the school through various clubs and frequent student events on campus featured on the LBCC website.
“Right now we have 16 clubs for charter and we are anticipating there will be an additional five to ten clubs this semester,” Hamon says.
“Our special interest clubs have really taken a hit because it’s difficult to do outreach to those students with specific interests… We are all still trying to find the best way to connect with those students and get them engaged with clubs.” Hamon said.