32 KENDALL DORM Women’s dorm Kendall Hall holds positive COVID-19 cases. In the summer of 2020, Harding designated women’s dorm Kendall Hall as a temporary residence for students who tested positive for COVID-19. “Kendall Hall is utilized for isolation, reserved for our students who have tested positive for COVID-19,” Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Zach Neal said. “Students who are pending testing results or have been listed as a recent ‘close contact’ of an individual testing positive for COVID-19 are to quarantine in the Heritage Inn or in a residence hall room that allows for them to live privately. A temporary residence life coordinator was hired to live in Kendall and give support to the students there.” Kendall Hall provided a unique experience for those who had to isolate. “I think using Kendall as an isolation dorm was a really smart move,” sophomore Watkins Kelly said. “While some students went home, many of us couldn’t because it would risk exposure to our family, or some stayed just for the feeling of still, sort of, being on campus with everyone.” Even though residing in Kendall provided some benefits, isolation was not always easy for the students. “It was kind of fun at first, being able to have down time in Kendall Hall, but it got lonely fast,” junior Konrad Heyen said. “What got me through it was the support and encouragement from my friends. They would come see me outside the window, and we were able to socialize every day, so that was a blessing.” It was definitely an adjustment getting used to Kendall and living in quarantine, but the transition was smooth, and the administration was very helpful along the way, Kelly said. story by Maren Bonham Look at the window! Emily Stinnett counts down the days in isolation before returning to normal life with her peers. Many students reached out and interacted with their friends while confined in women’s dorm Kendall Hall. | photo courtesy Holden Montgomery QUARANTINED DORM Abby Foust sits at her window in Kendall dorm while quarantined Oct. 1, 2020. Students in isolation found creative ways to connect with the outside world. | photo courtesy of Holden Montgomery Quarantined students lean from their windows in Kendall dorm. Window conversations became commonplace in fall 2020 | photo courtest of Emma Bartch
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