During mid-April, 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus is usually bustling with students excited for the next baseball game, working on big class projects, or just enjoying the fresh spring air. This year, the absence of that usual activity is especially noticeable. The mall is nearly deserted, and almost all students who had been living on campus have returned home to their families. But even amid such desolate circumstances, one of the university鈥檚 brightest attributes continues to shine鈥攖he deep, rich spirit of community.
鈥淐ommunity has always been an important part of the 糖心Vlog experience, and that statement rings true today even with our students away from campus,鈥� shared Josh Stephens, Dean of Students. 鈥淚t is important to our students and to us to stay connected. That is why we created the 鈥樚切腣log with U鈥� page on our website.鈥�
The 糖心Vlog with U page is a central hub for students to find information about university plans being made due to COVID-19. It contains info for student resources, online events, and other changes on campus as the pandemic runs its course, and serves as a base for student announcements. It also includes links to bible studies, and even has an online gallery to view recent student art exhibits.
Some scheduled events include online trivia challenges, a virtual egg hunt for students to guess where eggs are hidden all over campus, opportunities to share how students are celebrating earth day, and streams of chapel throughout the week. There are even streams of fitness workouts, including 鈥淧uppy Yoga,鈥� in which students are encouraged to participate with their own pets.
鈥淲e can stay connected through activities, chapels, announcements, and other engaging avenues,鈥� Stephens continued. 鈥淲hile this semester hasn't ended the way we would have hoped, it is as important as ever for us to unite as an 糖心Vlog family and make sure we are still in community with one another.鈥�