While most students have returned to their families, some students at the Aix-en-Provence campus havechosen to spend lockdown in their university residences. The campus director maintains weekly contact with them.
Student representatives also organized themselves to ensure that no student was left isolated. Testimony from Jonathan Franca, student representative on the Aix campus.
"Jonathan Bietry, president of the Student Council, and I act as liaisons between the students, the campus director, and the residence director. We make sure to maintain contact between students so that, in case of a problem, we are the people to contact and provide support if necessary.
The students confined to the residence are there by choice. Some who are too far from their families have preferred to stay in their studios. This is the case, for example, for students from New Caledonia. Some also felt that their working environment was more suitable in the residence than with their families.
Life is getting organized. Students are divided into groups of 5 to 6 people, with no interaction between groups and in compliance with the social distancing measures imposed by lockdown.
The communal kitchens are closed for those who have a kitchenette in their room. Last week, a large supply of basic goods was purchased for everyone and then redistributed. Shopping will then be done individually.
Students have the privilege of having a large green space to play volleyball or have lunch outside, always respecting the island system, without mixing groups.
The days are still busy: virtual classes began at the end of last week, and live lessons via Teams have been running since March 23.
Virtual meetings, working groups, chats, and even online games sometimes fill up their schedules. Some are even discovering their talents as outstanding cooks.
