“I feel like people aren’t as social anymore. It’s harder to talk to people.”

Sarah Pfeifer, 20, is a second-year communications student at UW-Milwaukee. Her first year at UWM was done virtually from her hometown of Antioch, Ill. Pfeifer was not impressed after walking onto a post-covid campus.

Anna Gipple: How would you describe your social life before the pandemic?

Sarah Pfeifer: My social life before the pandemic was a lot different. One of the main reasons is because I was living at home. But also, there were no restrictions or anything, and it was just easier to be able to go and do things without having to worry about covid and getting my family sick.

Q: And after the pandemic?

A: I feel like it’s changed completely. We’re starting to open back up now, so we’re getting a little bit of normal life back. But it’s still hard to do things, and I feel like people aren’t as social anymore. It’s harder to talk to people.

Q: What does a typical college atmosphere look like to you?

A: Before I got into college, I always thought everybody was going to be really talkative, it was going to be super easy to make friends and everyone would go to school events. It’s not what I expected.

Q: In what ways does UWM provide you with that atmosphere, or in what ways does it not?

A: I feel like one of the main reasons that UWM doesn’t have major school spirit is because it is in the city, so it’s a little bit different. Our sporting events aren’t as big and things like that. I also feel like UWM doesn’t really advertise its events that it does have very well. I do get emails, but I don’t know.

Q: Since UWM’s mask mandate has ended, are there ways in which you still feel a sense of social isolation?

A: Definitely. It’s still split. A lot of people still wear masks, so that’s one thing. I feel like, with the pandemic, it’s different when you’re trying to talk to people. I feel like not much has changed since the masks have gotten taken away.