92 ACADEMICS CREATING SPACE Harding finds unique locations to hold socially distanced classes. One of the many questions on the minds of faculty, staff and students during summer 2020 was whether classes would be held in-person in the fall. “We’ve wondered all summer how this was going to play out,” Assistant Professor of Bible Anessa Westbrook said. No one knew how classes on campus would operate in compliance with CDC guidelines. Some doubted they would be possible. However, after months of planning and preparation, faculty and students were welcomed back into the classroom. The learning environment was outfitted for safety, and new locations for classrooms were established over the summer. Westbrook said room capacities on campus were lowered, and the need arose for bigger spaces to accommodate the growing number of smaller classes. Two of Westbrook’s classes were held in locations off campus due to the size of her classes. The fall 2020 undergraduate course schedule featured new class locations, including the Benson Auditorium stage, balcony and floor; the Heritage Auditorium and conference room; the Administration Auditorium; the Rhodes-Rheaves Field House; College Church of Christ’s auditorium, Family Room and Room 100; and the Keller Center, which was formerly a Family Dollar on East Race Avenue. Professor of Bible Bill Richardson, who taught four classes in new locations, said the Keller Center was one of his favorite new venues, especially for social distancing. “There were all sorts of people involved in this,” Richardson said. “It’s just pretty remarkable when you think of what it was, and now they got it set up for a pretty nice venue. Because chapel was online for the first time, the Benson was utilized for classes, three at a time most days, which caused for some over-hearing and distractions at first.” One class met on the stage behind a curtain, and two were on the floor utilizing the 100-200 sections and the 400-500 sections. Some technical difficulties arose for the floor classes where students had to listen through headphones. “Students sat three seats apart, every other row, which made it difficult to engage with the ones in the back,” Richardson said. On the stage, students sat on two-story staging built for the space. “There is a way to allow the student’s voice to be heard, but it is going to have to be innovative,” Richardson said. “It is easiest just talking to each other in a smaller classroom.” Assistant professor of English Heath Carpenter said his Film as Literature class in the Administration Auditorium was ideal for screening films, but social distancing made discussions difficult. However, Carpenter said it was not nearly as difficult as his World Literature class in the Rhodes-Reaves Field House, an “acoustic nightmare.” Carpenter said the desire to be in a room with the presence of students prevailed all frustrations. “I chose to be a college professor for that room,” Carpenter said. story by Abigael Langdon Catch you at the Family Dollar! Students take notes in the Keller Center. The space was purchased and repurposed by the University in summer 2020. | photo by Stanley Morales CREATING PACE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==