My expectations for all this crap have become so low. My son is a fish at A&M. I am just hoping that Fall 2021 is normal. Football games, corps, but more importantly going to class, talking to people on campus, normal college life. I went down to see him a couple times this fall and it was just depressing. 2 out of 3 seats in the flag room with giant stickers on them to stop people from sitting there. Giant signs in the MSC food court "mask up stay 6 feet away". Classes that say they are in person but after a couple weeks they are all zoom. Way fewer people on campus. Kids riding a bike wearing a mask. Incredible. I was thankful we had 3 march ins and some games but it wasn't the same. No outfit bbqs, no yell practice, etc. "virtual" silver taps.
One of his classes was supposed to be an easy intro level class with several group presentations. His group never met in person and did their presentations on zoom. WTF. Nobody did well. Well no ****, how the hell do you do group projects and never meet as a group.
It was all such bull***** We have alot of friends with nonreg kids who were there in the fall and are battling major depression and questioning even going back to school. They never left their dorm rooms. Online class, no activities, etc. Never been so glad that my son chose the corps. At least he had friends, things going on, etc. The decisions by universities to put these idiotic "protocols" into place for a population that is just not at risk for problems with covid is criminal. College by definition is supposed to be THE time in a kid's life to meet new people, to talk to people, to experience new things. "mask up stay away". How absolutely sickening.
Of course , Young and Fierke have moved on, but their decisions and actions have caused immeasurable mental harm to this year's Aggie students.
I know alot of parents are beyond pissed. We are paying the same price for A&M and our kids are NOT getting a college experience (moreso in the corps, however). We all played ball this fall. The spring looks to be more of the same (MSC open house is "virtual" again, for example). But if A&M does this bull**** again in the fall there is going to be major protest.
Of course, it's like the Ivy Leagues...A&M's respose can be fine, leave, we'll give your spot to somebody else.