OCU officials made the decision today to move classes online for the remainder of the Spring semester due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
In an email to the campus community, officials said they made the difficult decision for the health and safety of the campus community. All events are cancelled through May 10, including commencement ceremonies.
“We will engage in broader discussions for alternate plans to celebrate the hard work and remarkable achievements of our graduating classes,” the email read.
The decision followed nearby universities’ decisions yesterday to move online for the remainder of the semester. These universities included University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and University of Central Oklahoma.
Housing and residence life officials said in a separate email that students must be moved out of their residence halls by March 29. Students are required to sign up for a time slot to move out, the email read.
“Any student with special circumstances that does not have alternative housing available can request emergency housing accommodations which will be considered on a case-by-case basis,” the email read.
Students with questions or concerns can contact residence life officials at residencelife@okcu.edu.
“The safety, health and well-being of our students is our top priority and is the reason for our taking this action,” the email read.
Some of OCU’s cancelled events include four shows, the School of Theatre’s “Women of Lockerbie,” “Trojan Women,” “Life of Galileo,” and the School of Music’s “Spamalot.” They also include many students’ voice and instrumental recitals, capstone projects, music concerts, student-produced performances and philanthropy events. Student athletes’ tournaments were cancelled last week after the NAIA decision to suspend all tournaments and athletic events for the remainder of the season.
Abby Bryan, acting senior, said she knew the decision was coming and would rather go online than risk health, but she is still devastated by the reality of the situation.
“No more painting on the quad or late-night visits with friends, no more spontaneous fast food trips after long auditions,” Bryan said. “But most importantly, no proper goodbye.”
Bryan said the decision is difficult for seniors to come to terms with because they won’t get a sense of closure or have the opportunity to say goodbye to friends and professors.
“Never again will I be in the same place with all of these people, and we had no idea that last week would be our last on the campus we so love and with the people we so cherish,” Bryan said.
Jay Williams, religion senior, said he is deeply saddened by the alternative plans for graduation.
“Being able to walk across the stage was a huge deal for not just me, but also my family,” Williams said. “Being a first-year college student, I am the first person in my family to receive a higher education degree.”
Williams said to him, graduation is more than just a ceremony or celebration of academic achievement.
“To me, graduation was supposed to be a celebration of all my ancestors, those who couldn’t get here themselves but built the foundation for me to walk on,” he said.
Commencement represented Williams’ triumph in overcoming poverty and systemic oppression, he said.
“I just wanted all of my younger family members to sit in those seats at graduation, see me walk across the stage and realize they too can overcome,” he said.
Elizabeth Horton-Ware, director of religious life, offered advice for students struggling with the decision.
“It is easier now than ever to stay connected through technology,” she said. “Practicing silence and meditation can help this time find meaning.”
Officials will be hosting a Zoom session to speak to students about the situation. The session will be 3-3:30 p.m. March 23. If students have a question they would like addressed, they can submit it by 10 a.m. Monday to OCUCommOffice@okcu.edu.
Officials request that any student, faculty, or staff member who believes they have been exposed to the virus, is symptomatic, or is in quarantine is to contact Family HealthCare and Minor Emergency Clinic at OCU at 405.373.2400.
For updated information about the university’s response to coronavirus, see okcu.edu/coronavirus.
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