LMU Evacuates as Part of COVID-19 Measures

The hallways of the usually bustling University Hall at Loyola Marymount University are barren, the smallest sound echoing throughout the cavernous building. Each office and classroom are closed as students and faculty leave campus to quarantine, a new effect of the neoteric coronavirus on academics.

Classes have been moved online for the remainder of the spring semester and students have been asked to evacuate their dorms and apartments.

A trio of large moving trucks blocked the entrance to the O’Malley apartments on the west side of campus; students and their parents rushed to put the last of their belongings into the trucks.

The campus crosswalks, typically led by a crossing guard amid heavy traffic, are desolate; the Sacred Heart Chapel completely closed; the common daily meeting grounds for over 9,000 students deserted — except for four young men playing spikeball just across from the chapel.

Scott Krugler, JJ Luk, Mark Pappas, and Leo G., seniors at LMU, haven’t let the virus slow down their final year at the institution.

“This is probably one of the safer places to be because there’s really no one here,” said Krugler.

Luk agreed. “We haven’t really gone out much and we need to be outside, so here we are playing spikeball.”

And with graduation looming around the corner, the men want to be able to finish out the year around their friends.

“All of my friends are graduating this year and this is really our last chance to see each other,” said Leo.

But even with such an exciting thing like graduation on the horizon, precautions still need to be taken due to the virus outbreak.

When asked how the quarantine will impact commencement this year, all four men said in solemn unison: “We’re graduating online this year.”

A virtual graduation, a viral threat, and a quarantined campus — the class of 2020 are being met with unique challenges.

In an email sent out to students on Monday, President of the Associated Students of LMU, Ken Cavanaugh, provided students with a list of services that are working together to help displaced students. For instance, UHAUL is offering free moving and storage for the next month and Frontier Airlines is offering free flights to eligible students who purchase tickets before March 20th.

The university will remain closed for at least the remainder of the spring semester. Further word regarding on-campus summer courses remains to be heard.

It is a worrisome time full of open-ended possibilities, but a lesson can be learned from four young men at LMU: it’s never too scary to play a game of spikeball.