Benjamin Snell
Staff writer
Since students returned to Willamette’s campus for the academic year, the university has entered a “quiet period” where student interactions are limited to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This means students are required to attend all classes remotely until Feb. 1, and are asked to stay in their dorms (or in their homes, for off-campus students) whenever possible. These new policies and requests may provide students with more free time, but not as much to do. Here is a list of things students can do to occupy their time during this period, in addition to places they can go both in Salem and on campus.
A student studies during the quiet period.
Photo by Anushka Srivastav.
1. Visit Salem parks or nearby coffee shops
Two parks that are currently open to the public and within walking distance from campus are Bush Pasture Park and Riverfront Park. Both of these places have trails for people to walk on and pleasant scenery. Coffee shops such as Isaac’s, The Governor’s Cup and Ike Box are all available for food and drink item takeout and are within a 1-mile radius of campus. Rick’s Cafe at the Willamette law school has also recently opened back up for business.
2. Go to a common area on campus
There are certain areas on campus that are open to students where they can sit to do homework or simply relax. The University Center, Ford Hall and Hatfield Library (with limited hours) are all currently open to students. Goudy is also open to students for take-out dining options.
3. Watch a new TV show
If you have access to Netflix, there are many opportunities for new (or old) shows to watch. Bridgerton is a popular new drama series that centers around the royal family in England in a past century, and Schitt’s Creek has also gained recent popularity as a great comedy series worth binging (here is a more comprehensive list of shows to watch).
4. Discover new music
The quiet period gives people a lot of time to find new artists or songs, and both Spotify and Apple Music have ways to do just that. Spotify has Discover Weekly and Daily MIxes, which offer personalized playlists to listen to, and Apple Music carries a similar system “New Music Mix.” Both platforms also offer a variety of genres (and playlists within those genres) to explore.
5. Practice mindfulness
While classes are stressful for many students, meditation and practicing mindfulness can help. Applications “Calm” and “Headspace” offer free meditation and mental wellness programs that can help you wind down and relax. Willamette also offers mindfulness meditations online via Zoom every Monday from 4:45-5 p.m.
6. Attend upcoming WEB events
WEB offers a number of activities for students to participate in. One upcoming event is the Virtual Game Night on Feb. 5, from 7-9 p.m. For more information on WEB and their upcoming events, you can visit their instagram page (@wueventsboard) and check their calendar here.