Monday is the first day of classes at StFX.
Andy Hakin, the university’s president, says it’s a day they’ve been planning for months.
Hakin tells The Hawk students are adapting well to the changes required because of COVID-19.
“There’s a lot of optimism, a lot of enthusiasm; at the same time, there’s some caution on campus as to how we’re going proceed,” he says. “But there’s a good feel- a very good feel.”
Hakin says the typical physical distancing and gathering restrictions are in place.
He says the entire campus is a “mask-on” zone.
“Sometimes a little bit of education is required for people,” he says. “If we see someone without a mask, we’re there to hand something out, but for the most part we’ve had excellent compliance on campus.”
Hakin says he’s happy with how students have been self-isolating; 1250 students had to isolate, and were supported 230 volunteers from the community, providing check-ins and getting the students what they needed.
He says four students from outside the Atlantic bubble didn’t isolate properly; they were fined by the RCMP, and face further disciplinary action from university officials, although he didn’t say exactly what that would be.
