By Sophie Higby
The 2020-21 school year was filled with cautious, preemptive measures to ensure the spread of COVID-19 was as minimal as possible. For the past year and a half, Samford has been working diligently to create a safe and healthy environment for its students and staff.
The combined efforts of everyone washing their hands frequently, cloroxing every counter, constantly wearing masks and properly social distancing, minimized the spread of COVID-19 on campus. According to an article from July of this year published in The New York Times, taking these precautions also helped to stop the spread of germs and viruses other than the coronavirus.
Samford, along with the rest of the world, has begun to return to normalcy and host events at their usual capacities. Because of this, many students are falling victim to the common cold, now known commonly on Samford’s campus as the “Frat Flu.”
Students have gone to clinics to be tested for COVID-19, Mono and Strep Throat, only for their test results to come back negative. The Frat Flu’s symptoms are similar to most illnesses which include congestion, coughing and loss of smell. Although it is spreading all across campus, Greek Life seems to have felt its effects the most.
Emma Boster, a participant in Samford Greek Life, has been sick for several weeks.
“I have been feeling very run down and it’s like a terrible, terrible cold that will not go away. I am always coughing and my chest always hurts,” Boster said.
Boster is just one of many students on campus who are experiencing the symptoms.
“Almost everyone I live with has had the same thing as me, and I live with 60 girls,” Boster said.
Students, such as Boster, have missed class due to feeling so sick. However, others feel well enough to be able to go to class and do not want to be counted absent. This has led to the virus spreading even more.
While class is important, in order to stay healthy and stop the spread of the virus, experts recommend students stay at home if they do not feel well, monitor symptoms, and wash their hands.
