This will be an interesting semester for Cougs everywhere.

Obviously, everyone knows that WSU Zoom 2: Electric Boogaloo will make classes more difficult, and it will make labs almost impossible. To all the STEM majors: I give to you my condolences.

The best part of school for me was the people. I learned a lot about a variety of topics, but the interactions with other Cougs is what made me come back every semester. Now that experience is unavailable to most students.

I do not wish to appear saccharine, but one of our school’s biggest draws is its community. Without being in the same classroom, the camaraderie and spirit of helping each other is lost. So, for any new students to WSU, I am sorry, and I hope you can get that experience soon. I would encourage you to attempt to connect with other students through video chats or other socially distant methods until COVID-19 is gone.

Just because most classes are not taking place in Pullman does not mean there aren’t ways to stay connected as Cougs. Stay up to date with what is going on in sports, local government and university policies. Even though you may not see it, WSU is always changing. Do not let the administration silence athlete’s voices or try to hit you with more fees because they have spent too much money on other things.

If you are an out-of-state student and a freshman, it might be hard for you to make connections with other students if you do not know anyone else who goes to school. Slide into people’s DMs (if that is what you kids still call it) and try to meet new people. Sooner or later you will find some people you will want to hang out with whenever you can make it to Pullman.

Seriously though, stay updated on what goes on in Pullman and at WSU. The last thing you want to see is that there will be more fees for sh-t you will never use. If you are lucky, though, maybe there will be a bar back in the CUB! Or even a dispensary on campus?

To anyone who read this, thank you for bearing with a recent grad attempting to write some hogwash about what to do with this semester. I strongly encourage people to pick up an incredibly annoying hobby. Right now I’m diving into cigars.