A nervous excitement filled the air as Northwestern students crowded the classrooms and hurried down Sheridan Road to get to class. 

Today marked the first day of fall quarter, and for many upper-classmen, the first day of in-person school since March of 2020, when the campus shut down due to the pandemic. 

Since then, classes were primarily remote, and several students told the RoundTable they are eager to get back into the classroom. 

Fourth-year Sidney Burke said she has missed going to in-person classes, although she is less excited about needing to wear a mask all day. “I don’t know if I want to smell my own breath for an hour and a half,” she added.

First-year Olivia Orren, who posed to take pictures outside of Deering Library, already attended her first class. She said she was very happy about her class size and felt that her professor was very kind and understanding. “I’m excited but also nervous,” she said. 

“I just had my first class and I really like my professor,” said first-year Grace Coolidge. “I’m feeling super excited.”

Long lines at the COVID-testing center

To ensure a safe start to the quarter, Northwestern University required all students to take a COVID test prior to the first day of class and to continue testing throughout the school year. 

In anticipation of the deadline, students lined up to receive their COVID tests several days before the start of the quarter. Students, who reported waiting in line for close to two hours, spilled out of the university testing site at the Jacobs Center, 2001 Sheridan Road, and the line stretched past Northwestern Place along Sheridan Road. 

“We’ve already been here for almost an hour,” said sophomore Joshua Bobbitt, who stood in line that afternoon. He and fellow sophomore Gaby Min anticipated at least another 30 minutes of waiting.