I remember my freshman move-in day, August 1995, at the University of Colorado. The previous evening, I had split up with my high school girlfriend. I was trying to navigate a new normal away from home. I was emotionally exhausted from the shock of all this change happening in my life, and I was physically exhausted from the move to Boulder. However, the thrill of meeting new friends and beginning my college career got me through. In short, I had a blast! The first weeks were filled with ultimate frisbee, pickup football, meals with newfound friends in the dining halls, punk and ska concerts, hanging out with the guys on my floor at all hours, aimlessly wandering Boulder like a group of lost freshmen and going
crazy at Buffalo football games. My classes, set in large lecture halls, were challenging, gave me a chance to meet fellow engineering nerds and were preparing me for a successful career. Those days were so exciting, I remember the very feel of them 25 years later!
These memories came flooding back two weeks ago as I walked the plaza at Colorado State University during freshman move-in week 2020. CSU felt like a ghost campus. There were only a few small groups of students walking around. The bike racks were sparse, only securing a handful of broken-down bikes with flat tires remaining from the Spring 2020 COVID apocalypse. There were no tents set up to invite students to join student groups, club sports and community organizations. Every other year, the energy on the CSU plaza during move-in day is high with hundreds of students, loud music, conversation, laughter and the thrill of everything new. Not this year. Colorado State and all college campuses across the United States are defined by one worldwide pandemic. We are all CSU this year. Welcome to COVID State University.
COVID State University Move-in Day
As I wandered the paths of COVID State University, I knew what was happening during move-in week. To keep students safe from the spread of COVID-19, student move-in was much different from the one I remembered in 1995. In Fall 2020, students of CSU had to sign up for a specific move-in time and were allowed two people to help them move in. Now moved in, students are not allowed to have any visitors from outside their dorm for the foreseeable future. There are no football games, no large lecture settings, no large group gatherings and distancing is still encouraged over connection. I pondered how awful my August 1995 would have been if I had been moving into COVID State University. My heart broke for the freshmen moving in on this day – freshmen who had just broken up with a high school girlfriend, were leaving their families, were emotionally exhausted from all the change and yet were without the thrill of the college experience. My thoughts turned to the many discouraged students I’ve spoken with who had been looking forward to joining an engaging and challenging academic community, but who in 2020, are just joining the dull recorded lectures of COVID State University.
And that’s when my prayers began. Blog reader, no matter your alma mater and no matter what college is near your home, that institution is a member of COVID State this year. Would you join me on a virtual prayer walk for the incoming freshmen of the COVID State University campus closest to your heart?
Lord Jesus, would you use the isolation and emptiness at Colorado State and all universities to produce hunger for fullness and relationship with you? Would you replace the thrill of a college experience with a divine experience of your love? Would you replace shaky student identity defined by academic success with a firm identity in you? Jesus, you have placed Faith Church and our Forge ministry to college-aged young adults in this place and pandemic that we could share the gospel students need to hear. When students take the risk to visit Faith Church online or in person, would you make us warm, welcoming, real and relevant so they are blessed by a community unified by and generous with your grace? Apart from a movement of your Spirit, we can do nothing. Show us the way to minister in this moment. Our desire is for students to be filled with the love and joy we already know as your beloved.
Amen
Ben has been a member at Faith for six years. Two years ago, he transitioned from a career in electrical engineering to full-time ministry as Faith’s College Ministry Director. Ben is passionate about teaching the Bible, developing young leaders and discipling college-aged young adults.
Outside of ministry, Ben loves spending time with his wife, Sally, and their 3 boys. He enjoys all outdoor activities including running, camping, skiing and hiking.