Below are some quotes compiled by the Tiger News Staff about how some members of our Clemson family have been impacted by the coronavirus. 
Sylvia Blanton, a freshman elementary education major, ended her first year at Clemson in an unprecedented way. “It has been extremely crazy having my freshman year cut short. I wasn’t expecting to have to leave my roommate so soon, or my dorm and not be able to come back. I miss my professors and all of my friends, but I know the university is doing what they think is best for us. I can definitely say this is going to be a freshman year to remember!”
Sophie Finnell, a sophomore psychology major and a resident assistant who is currently on campus, still manages to find positivity, even when she lives and works on a campus that seems abandoned. “Spending time at an empty Clemson University has taught me that my love for this school goes deeper than the picturesque sunsets or perfect afternoons in the amphitheater. Being one of the few students left on campus, I have realized that the reason I love Clemson is truly the people that make up this school, not the physical school itself. Seeing an empty campus tells me that Clemson students are reciprocating this love, and love each other enough to social distance for the benefit of the greater community!”
Andee O’Sell, the owner of Clemson’s own Spill the Beans, is one of many downtown business owners who have been impacted. “Closing up shop is tough, but so is Clemson. I miss my incredible staff, our regular customers and knowing I can pay the rent. Our community comes first and I hope my actions will have an impact. I really look forward to making ice cream for many friendly faces when we reopen!”
Kaybren Boyd, a senior environmental engineering major, has remained in her off-campus apartment after all classes were moved online and campus was essentially closed. “I think a lot of people are being good and are staying inside. But I’m pretty sure there’s a good chunk of people being not so good and still going out. It’s probably worse in other places than here for sure. Also going to the grocery store to get stuff is hard and not fun because they don’t always have everything unless you go super early.”
Kyle Skehan, a senior business management major, is coming to terms with the fact that his last semester is being completed through online learning, away from campus. “It’s just upsetting to see your last semester ending so fast. You want to make the best out of it, but it’s all just like ‘CORONA’.”
Brad Hobbs, economics professor, has tried to make the e-learning transition as easy and interesting as possible for his students when they decide to attend class. “The online has gone good in some ways and not so good in others. Good aspects? My transition was helped by being partly online already for my big principles class. Zoom has worked well for my upper-levels, though I do have a few missing in action. Bad aspects? Engagement is much more difficult. One of the things we do is “coach.” I want to get students to develop a passion for the subject and the questions economics asks. It’s kind of hard to do that online. I did develop an alter ego – my cousin Elrod. He needed a place to stay so he is here with me during this, as he calls it, “quarrel time”. He wanders through my Zoom sessions periodically. You can find him on Instagram as elrodpobbs. He keeps wanting to teach my class. Maybe I’ll let him teach one.”