Students in quarantine housing have found that resources are not as readily available as initially stated. // Photo courtesy of Elisabeth Ford.

“There literally has not been a day where I have not cried,” said Elisabeth Ford, a sophomore journalism major. “It feels like a prison.” 

Ford is one of the many Hofstra University students to have been placed in the University’s on-campus quarantine housing this semester. 

In the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester, a section of one residence hall, Colonial Square (CSquare), was reserved for students to quarantine if they tested positive or were in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.  

As more courses were made in-person this semester, quarantine housing remains available to students. However, multiple students who have been forced to isolate in the on-campus quarantine housing were dissatisfied with their experience.   

Students have expressed that the isolation took a negative toll on their mental health. Anthony France, a sophomore music education major, was put into isolation last semester when he and his girlfriend came into contact with a family member who tested positive for COVID-19. Both were put into suites next to each other but were not allowed to visit each other. 

“We had to plan when to pick up our meals from outside the door,” France said. “And all we would do was stick our heads out, pick up the meals and wave hi.”  

While France said he suffered mentally during his time in quarantine, he felt “lucky” to have already been seeing a therapist and was able to meet with them virtually. 

Upon entering quarantine, all students are supplied with a welcome letter that provides them with a list of resources should they need anything during the isolation period, according to Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Jean Peden Christodoulou.  

The Student Counseling Center has also put a plan in place to support those in quarantine.  

“Part of that effort includes both reaching out to students individually and providing an opportunity for students to access our ‘COVID group’ which we host one evening a week,” said John Guthman, executive director of Student Counseling Services. “In addition, we reach out to each student individually as they cycle into quarantine housing to check on them.” 

While Guthman claims that counseling services reaches out to each student individually, neither Ford nor France received a phone call from anyone checking in on them while they were at CSquare. 

“No one [was] checking in on us … not even calling us,” Ford said. “At my brother’s school [Vanderbilt University], they would have a nurse come in twice a day to check on them.” 

Ford also felt frustrated by the lack of communication between her and the University. She has struggled to contact health services about obtaining a COVID-19 test. She is still unable to be tested and will be forced to remain in quarantine two days longer than necessary.  

France struggled with similar communication issues. He and his girlfriend were exposed to COVID-19 but had not yet been tested. During their quarantine stay, they were both taken to the Student Health And Counseling Center to be tested, but never received their results.  

“As far as we know we were [negative],” France said. “We never had any COVID symptoms.” Nevertheless, they both remained in quarantine for 11 days. 

 “It’s just so stressful to have to take care of yourself, but also take care of the situation you’re in,” Ford said. 

 Guthman urges students to reach out if they are struggling mentally from the isolation and stress of quarantine.  

 “While services are available, we trust that students will access those services and take advantage of them as needed,” Guthman said. “We are not empowered to impose ourselves.” 

 However, many students did not feel supported mentally during their isolation period and believe the University could have made their mental health services more accessible.  

 “I think they should have made [Hofstra’s mental health services] more open or obvious for those in quarantine,” France said. “Everyone I know who had to quarantine, they came out feeling worse than they did coming in, and these are people who had COVID.” 

 In an effort to provide more support to students in on-campus quarantine housing, Christodoulou said that the University has hired a full-time employee in the Division of Student Affairs. Starting this week, their role will be to coordinate the operation aspects of quarantine isolation housing. “We decided to make this a live-in position,” Christodoulou said. “So that someone is always available to students in quarantine housing.” 

 Christodoulou and Guthman encourage students to stay connected virtually during their time in isolation and to reach out to University resources if they are struggling.  

 “[The University] did their best for the most part,” France said. “It’s just unfortunate.”