JAKOB LUCAS, Sports Editor—As Denisonians climb back onto the Hill many protocols are different from last year’s as Denison moves forward and hopes to put COVID-19 behind them. With high vaccination rates, Denison is able to progress to a sense of normalcy in a lot of areas.
Student attendance is back at every sporting event, there are no limits on in-room gatherings, and plexiglass is largely gone from all dining locations. That’s not to say that Denison is acting as if COVID-19 never happened. There are still quarantine and isolation protocols in place should COVID-19 arrive on campus and special policies in some areas.
One of these areas is the Mitchell Center where a new mask policy aims to bring Mitchell back to pre-COVID practices while still protecting all those permitted to use the facility. Only Denison community members (students, faculty, and staff) will be able to use the facilities, as it is locked to the outside community with one exception. Future students who are being recruited for a sports team and touring the facilities will be permitted inside.
Moreover, unvaccinated staff members will not be allowed to use Mitchell. Students also may have heard about a sticker system but need not concern themselves with it as it only applies to faculty and staff.
Denison community members will quickly notice while going through their workout routines is the absence of masks. Masks are now only needed in Mitchell when walking around, in a meeting, or in a classroom. Though athletic teams have somewhat different practices as their masks will remain on during team lifts, team meetings, and in the locker rooms. Those using Mitchell will need to bring their own masks, as Mitchell will not be providing them.
Those who went to the Mitchell Center last year remember having to book an appointment in order to use the facilities. However, the booking system and time-slots are gone and Mitchell is once again open for walk-ins. Students will still have to swipe their card when entering Mitchell for contact tracing should the need arise.
Mitchell also announced they are returning to regular hours this semester. The Mitchell Center will be open Monday-Thursday from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, Friday 6:00 am – 9:00 am, Saturday 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, and Sunday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm.
Crown Fitness and the Trumbull Aquatic Center will operate under different hours however.
Sunday through Friday, Crown Fitness’ hours will align with the overall building hours, but on Saturdays will be open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Trumbull Aquatic Center will be open intermittently Monday – Friday, from 7:30 am to 8:40 am, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm, and 7:00 pm 9:00 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, Trumbull will be open from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm.
As Denison eases back into the new year, Mitchell will be much more accessible. D-Fuse, the smoothie and snack bar in Mitchell even opened on Monday, September 13. Students should be sure to take advantage of all the Mitchell Center has to offer!