Dordt Students to Spend Last Two Weeks I

Art: Feature: News: Sports: Break Married Students Football of Day profs on campus season Review share over break wrap-up story page 7 page 5 page 3 page 8 December 11, 2020 Issue 6 Follow us online Dordt ends semester with 153 total recorded positive COVID-19 cases Sam Landstra– Staff Writer In a county that had largely balked at infected or traced into quarantine or isolation. perspective I never wanted to have.” Christensen received daily text messages COVID-19 restrictions, the virus found a home Still, by September 28 Dordt had recorded Her first quarantine came about after her from Angela Perigo of campus ministries, in late September. For almost the entire month, 18 active positive COVID-19 cases within the roommate tested positive around the time of the sometimes with voice memos of encouragement Sioux County reported daily COVID-19 case student body with a total of 135 in quarantine or late-September spike. It landed her in the Econo included. Since the beginning of the semester, numbers that cracked 200. There had been no isolation. Lodge for ten days and forced her away from the campus ministries team had directed their state government mandate on masking or social “If [case counts] would have doubled again her role in the fall mainstage theater production, resources towards reaching out to students in distancing. For the most part, people were free then I think we would have had to say to kids, “Arms and the Man.” quarantine or isolation. They offered Bible to attend school, frequent businesses, and go to ‘Hey, we’re going to finish this semester back at Christensen emerged from her seclusion studies, prayer sessions, and times to just hang church as they pleased with minimal limitations. home.’” Hoekstra said. on the opening night of the show, just in time. out. This lifestyle combined with the rising case The spike in cases at Dordt petered out in Still, she slept at the hotel for the remainder of “We lived fruitfully together in community.” numbers and average case positivity rate— the weeks that followed and hovered in the the productions to prevent any additional close Hoekstra said. “It was as good as I think it could which hit 58 percent on September 20—spurred single digits for the remainder of the calendar calls. have gone.” local health officials into action. They called year. For a brief two-week span in November, At the end of October, Christensen returned For Hoekstra and the other decision-makers a meeting between the presidents of Dordt numbers rose past ten again before falling back to her apartment. Her return to normalcy did not at Dordt, including the COVID-19 task force, University and Northwestern College and other to zero at the close of the in-person semester. last long, though. She developed COVID-19 their planning for the year always hung in the area school superintendents to issue a three-part In total, Dordt University recorded 153 symptoms and tested positive a few weeks later. balance. It was difficult to know anything with request: mandated facial coverings, maintained positive cases, around nine percent of its It was back into isolation again; her roommates surety. They could only see a couple weeks out physical distancing, and continued promotion enrollment. They also placed students into did the same. at a time but calling off the in-person semester of hygiene. quarantine or isolation 612 times. “It was not necessarily anyone’s fault, but without trying to pull it off was never an option. “That was a scary moment. But yet Josie Christensen found herself counted it just sucked. You still feel responsible,” said Leading up to and throughout the semester, personally for Dordt, I would say we felt among the latter number. Christensen spent 27 Christensen, describing the process of contact- Hoekstra communicated to students the goal of encouraged by it.” Dordt University President days in a form of quarantine or isolation over tracing her inner circle. the university to conduct the final day of exams Erik Hoekstra said. “They were saying, ‘Hey, the course of the semester. She split her time With a considerable chunk of her semester in-person on December 11, having done so all everybody pay attention to what Dordt’s trying between 18 nights at the Econo Lodge, five spent sequestered away from the university and the sixteen weeks prior. To track the feasibility to do.’” at home, and four at the Alumni House. Her into isolated spaces, Christensen stood to lose of this target, the COVID-19 task force met In contrast to the surrounding community, sentences add up to almost one third of the in- her connection with the campus. It turned out weekly and the administrative cabinet two to Dordt University had by that time implemented person fall calendar. By now, she’s an expert at better than she expected. three times a week. multiple COVID-19 restrictions—including it. “In my own personal experience, I felt very “I knew it was the right goal to have, but mandated mask wearing in public spaces and a “It was so different that anything I have cared for by Dordt.” Christensen said. “It was I also didn’t know what percentage it was contact-tracing system that placed individuals ever experienced.” Christensen said. “[It’s] a very personable.” realistic.” Hoekstra said. “We picked a road that continued on page 3 Home to quarantine: Dordt Saving those who served students to spend last two Katie Ribbens– Staff Writer Sergeant James Clinton II stands in the Le weeks in isolation Mars Veterans Memorial Park watching his two sons clamber around an old army Jeep. Hannah Kuperus – Staff Writer His daughter observes with wide brown eyes from her perch in the stroller. His hand clutches On November 25, Gideon Brandsma left turned into finishing out the year in the format. a worn leather leash. On the other end—his Dordt with his sister to drive back to Canada, “I chose to drive home this Christmas to lifeline. returning home like most Dordt students until avoid having my vehicle stuck in Iowa if Dordt The golden eyes miss nothing. the start of next semester. Unlike most Dordt did choose to start next semester online.” In the smiling face of Patton the service students, however, Brandsma faced a period of Brandsma said. “[But] Dordt has been fairly dog, they are a comforting thing. The kind eyes quarantine once home. confident thus far, and I don’t see that changing, quietly observe, surrounded by fine chocolate “Quarantine in British Columbia is a so I’m not too worried about not going back.” fur. Watching. Waiting. Ready to act. Ready to fourteen-day requirement to stay at home while Brandsma was not alone in remembering serve. avoiding close contact with family members.” the spring semester. With memories of last Clinton dedicated himself to the army, Brandsma said. “Since Dordt chose to finish the semester’s online learning, many students were sacrificing his mind and body. He sustained semester online, my quarantine will end around disappointed at the prospect of online classes physical injuries during his time in Afghanistan, the same time as my last exam.” for the last two weeks of the fall semester. but it’s the PTSD that keeps him awake at Brandsma arrived in Canada on November However, he provided a different perspective. night. So when he needed saving, the nonprofit 26, and, aside from confirming he had a place “The decision to go online was a difficult Partners for Patriots in Anthon, Iowa stepped to quarantine, he had no issues crossing the choice to make, but it has allowed many in. Their mission? To donate service dogs to border. Canadian students to avoid quarantining over disabled veterans. Dordt University is currently Although Brandsma and his sister may be Christmas.” Brandsma said. examining ways for students to get involved quarantining at home, home life still remains While quarantining for the first fourteen with the nonprofit, situated one hour from different than normal as they eat separately days home may not seem ideal to many, he campus. Contributed Photo from their family and wear masks when leaving has maintained a positive attitude and kept Clinton walked into the kennels expecting of brown. His stubbed tail furiously swishes their bedrooms. everything in perspective. a German Shepherd but came home with a through the air with all the more intensity to “We do our best to sanitize items if we’ve “I understand that some students believe German Shorthaired Pointer instead, by name make up for its lost length. touched them, but the whole process is fairly mandatory quarantine is undermining personal the of Patton. As Clinton tells his story, Patton forces common sense—wash hands, avoid close freedom, but if it has the potential to benefit “He’s like a godsend,” Clinton said. “You himself into his lap, supporting him as he contact, and monitor symptoms if they arise.” my neighbors, my younger siblings’ school and should have seen me before I had him— like it trudges through the heavy memories. He places Brandsma said. my parents’ coworkers, it’s hardly a sacrifice.” was a whole different me.” a paw on Clinton’s chest. I’m here. In addition to these precautions, Brandsma Brandsma said. “It’s also easy to do when I Patton is currently the only one of his high- Years ago, rattling and bumping as he sat in took another safety measure too after last know my community is doing the same.” energy breed to succeed in his job at Partners.

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