Classes Cancelled Week Before Semester Starts

As we enter into year three of the COVID pandemic, the effects of the spread of such a virus are as prevalent as ever before. Schools within Chicago and around America are forced to respond to the ever-developing situation and with the omicron variant spreading, many institutions are moving to virtual learning. While universities including the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and Loyola University Chicago have decided to have virtual classes for the first 2-3 weeks of their spring semesters, many classes at Wilbur Wright College have either been switched from in-person to virtual or even canceled altogether.

Within Wright’s English Department, over 30 classes were canceled, reports English instructor Vincent Bruckert, due to under-enrollment. Humanities classes such as those in religion, as well as college seminars, and even computer science classes experienced cancellations. The uncertainty of the ongoing pandemic did not make things any easier for students as they prepared for the upcoming semester. “I panicked, I’m not going to lie,” said Yehuda Goldbloom, a Wilbur Wright student whose computer science class was canceled, “I hope all students have access to good computers at home.” While some courses are still in person, others have had to switch to remote learning. Those who are solely taking online classes have been the least affected by the changes. Wright student Liam Smith, who is taking three courses this semester, said that all three were initially remote and still are.

The city of Chicago and City Colleges of Chicago are working to curb the expected spread of the recently-developed omicron variant, with students who are taking in-person classes now being required to test weekly and show proof of their negative status via “COVID Green Passes.” Students and teachers have to adjust to this new way of life that is anything but ordinary, with the high likelihood new variants emerging as the virus spreads throughout the population. The idea of school going back to “normal” seems like a distant hope at the moment, but all we can do is make the most of what we have and weather this storm.