the
new
normal.

the new normal.

the new normal.

Mandatory face masks and curfews, routine vaccinations and various social distancing measures.

The coronavirus crisis is likely the first thing that came to mind; however, as tensions began to settle on the verge of World War I’s completion, these were the same health protocols enacted for the rise of the 1918 flu pandemic. As troops returned home, the U.S. experienced rapidly rising case numbers and a grueling set of lockdowns. Numerous safety measures were used over the two years and four waves to try and quell the spread.

Now, more than a century later, USC students are facing a very similar world event. The coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed the structure of student life; from remote and hybrid learning on Zoom to weekly surveillance coronavirus tests and daily symptom screens through Trojan Check, the USC community has been forced to adapt to the new way to learn.

Although USC has recently lessened coronavirus protocols by lifting Trojan Check for fully vaccinated and boosted students and the ban on guests in student housing, the future is still uncertain. While students no longer need to stand in long lines at testing centers, can attend classes in person and maskless and begin to enjoy campus life, USC students are continuing to experience the ebbs and flows of the new normal.