The pandemic has changed our world, but one thing hasn’t changed: Loggers care for each other. As we navigate the complexities of living on campus and strive to protect our community, we know we can count on you to create a safe and empathetic environment.
How We Show Kindness:
- Be Aware – Care for yourself and others by familiarizing yourself with university health protocols, being informed about the spread of COVID-19, taking precautions to reduce your risk, getting your vaccine, staying home, and getting a test if you’re not feeling well.
- Be Respectful – Understand that everyone has a different comfort level around masks and physical distancing, so clearly and kindly share what you need to feel safe in a given situation and respect others’ needs if you’re asked to wear a mask.
- Be Flexible – As our understanding of COVID-19 evolves, so will our health guidance. Be prepared to adapt to changing guidelines as we work to keep our community safe.
Conversation Starters
Let’s face it: asking someone to wear a mask can be awkward. We’re tackling a few common scenarios you may face on campus and offering suggestions for how to have hard conversations about COVID-19 safety.
My roommate won’t wear a mask in our room. What do I do?
While face coverings are encouraged for all students, vaccinated students are not required to wear a mask or gator while in their rooms. However, if you feel uncomfortable without masks in your room, talk to your roommate and explain why you feel that you both should wear masks, or try to agree on circumstances when you both would wear a face covering, such as when one of you is feeling sick. If you’re not able to come to an agreement, your res life student leader can help lead a conversation.
If I’m wearing a mask, will people think I have COVID-19 (or that I’m unvaccinated)?
There are lots of reasons why people may choose to wear a face covering, even if they’re not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or need to protect themselves because you aren’t fully vaccinated. You may choose to wear a mask because you have a tickle in your throat and don’t want to get your classmates sick, to keep your face warm on a cold day, to use as a fashion accessory, or because you didn’t have time to brush your teeth before rushing off to class. We can expect face coverings to be a part of everyday life for the foreseeable future.
I woke up with a cough. Do I need to get tested?
No matter how diligently you follow health guidelines, you may still get sick. The first thing you should do is take steps to protect those around you from exposure, like wearing a mask and staying away from others. Then, call CHWS to schedule an appointment to determine if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or if it’s something less serious, like a cold. After your appointment, the CHWS staff will let you know if you need to quarantine.
Resources
- Have more questions about campus living or need to talk to someone about an issue in your residence hall? Talk to your RA or contact the Office of Residential Experience at 253.879.3317 or reslife@pugetsound.edu.
- Feeling symptoms of COVID-19? Call Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services at 253.879.1555 or email chws@pugetsound.edu.
COVID-19 Prevention Efforts for Living On Campus