By: Sydney Young

The fall semester at the University of Montevallo is finally here. With COVID, the past two years on college campuses have been anything but normal. Now UM is getting back to what most would call a normal college experience.

UM has changed it’s COVID policies this year, which went into effect on August 22, the first day of the fall semester.

Like some students who started college during the pandemic, Mass Communication teacher Mr. Daniel Vest started his teaching career in August of 2020.

“Everybody’s had their challenges with COVID since 2020 and it’s really nice to be back to real normal, like when I was in school, with no disruptions,” said Vest. “You know there were a lot of polices and procedures and what not with COVID, and we needed them, but it just wasn’t a traditional experience.”

While COVID is still around students are trying to have normal lives by going to club events, having in-person recruitment for Greek life and going to most classes in-person.

Tyson Evans, a junior in the Mass Communications program, started college in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and is glad to see more events and such happening.

“It’s really good to see everybody back, people are getting active and more involved,” said Evans.

Even though not all schools across the country or world are fully back to normal, UM is trying its best to get back and faculty and staff are ready for a normal year.

Dr. Bruce Finklea, an Associate Professor of Mass Communication, has been teaching at Montevallo for the past 11 years. He is just one of many who is excited for this semester.

“I think this is really kinda that first semester where we kinda get that breath of fresh air, going okay we’re back, we can do things and have a fantastic semester.”

Students and faculty alike are glad to be back on the bricks of Montevallo and this first week of classes started the semester off on a great note.