COVID-19 Restrictions Force NSO Online

Graphic by Abby Miller

The King’s College hosted a virtual New Student Orientation (NSO) from Aug. 31 through Sept. 2, 2020, due to the New York state-wide quarantine guidelines set for students coming from high-risk states. 

After move-in day for incoming students, house presidents gathered via Zoom with King’s President Tim Gibson and Dean of Students David Leedy to welcome new students and discuss the events planned for the week ahead—campus housing, semester orientation, Convocation and the Honor Code.

Each house holds an Honor Code discussion, led by their house president. This conversation is an opportunity for incoming students to discuss with upperclassmen what it means to be a part of a community that upholds integrity. Traditionally, this meeting is held in person, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was held over Zoom. 

“In my first year of statesmanship they emphasized the importance of setting up a good environment, making everything feel cozy instead of having a stale classroom atmosphere,” Rachel Williamson, House of Thatcher president, said. “We wanted to make the first-years feel comfortable when discussing these harder topics. Because the class size is smaller this year, it was not as stressful trying to get everybody engaged on Zoom, despite it being virtual.”

Student meet-and-greets provided an opportunity for international and transfer students to interact virtually on Zoom. 

“Even though we couldn’t meet in person, it was a great way to see other transfer students relate to the same things I was feeling,” sophomore Sydney Brown, a transfer student from Butler University, said. “A few of them reached out to me personally after the ‘meeting’ on Zoom and we’ve had a chance to talk about our transfer experiences, which is super cool.” 

Through these NSO events, new students can integrate themselves into the King’s community. 

“I came in worried that I would feel behind transferring in as a sophomore, but I have felt included and encouraged by everyone I have met thus far,” Brown said.

Provost Mark Hijleh led virtual Convocation alongside President Tim Gibson, house presidents, and faculty to welcome new students into King’s. 

“There are traditions that we do during the ceremony that just cannot be captured over Zoom,” Student Body President Colin Phillips said. “They [new students] couldn’t even sign the Honor Code in person.”

Despite the lack of in-person interaction, student leaders worked hard to make the virtual events as intentional as possible. 

“Of course, students missed out on the in-person interactions, but being on the statesmanship side of things I saw how much work the NSO team put into providing opportunities to interact face-to-face, even over Zoom with professors, other students, and first-years with each other,” Williamson said. 

Students noticed the effort and applauded. 

“I was encouraged to see the school working hard to give those same experiences to new students, even if we were meeting virtually,” said Quinn Wallace, a freshman majoring in Media, Culture and the Arts (MCA).

Liz Piazza, another incoming freshman majoring in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE), said, “The King’s College created the best possible options for the surrounding circumstances.” 

NSO may have been a hit, but moving forward with in-person events may prove just as daunting a task. 

“A lot of us are being encouraged to plan events indoors with masks and social distancing, but for the foreseeable future I think there will be a lot of outdoor activities,” Williamson said. 

Phillips concluded the virtual NSO week with a charge to the incoming class. 

“You are now a Kingsian, and it is yours to hold yourself and your classmates to a higher standard of conduct and character. Take pride,” Phillips said.