CWU students are required to get tested for COVID-19 if they live, work or have class on campus. If students are not tested, they will not be allowed access to campus. Testing was done in groups based on a student’s grade level.

The Welcome Back Testing went well from what students have said, but some are worried that group poll testing, which was not specified as the means of testing by SHS before the event, could negatively impact their life on campus and their education. 

Ryan Summers, a junior, is one student who received a COVID-19 test during the event due to working on campus. He said the process of getting tested was simple and straightforward. He said he walked right in and there was only one person in front of him. 

Summers said there were two types of set-ups for being tested. The first section was check-in, and once students were checked in, they were told to head to the next section and wait to get called up to take the test. 

“I felt pretty good, I actually felt kind of relieved now that I can hopefully go back to work next week,” Summers said. 

However, Summers said that poll testing was done at the event, which is where “an individual person’s test gets grouped with others and then if someone in their group tests positive, the group will have to get retested until the group tests negative.” 

Clarke Catledge, a freshman, is another student who received a COVID-19 test during the Welcome Back Testing event due to his participation in the men’s volleyball club. Every person on the volleyball team had to get tested as well.

Catledge said he was worried his test results would come back positive because of the way the SHS conducted the testing. This made Catledge question if the testing process could set back his club sports and ability to be on campus. 

Madison Child, a junior, is another student to receive a COVID-19 test at the event due to being a student athlete. She is on the cross country and track and field teams. 

All of her teammates had to get tested in order to be able to participate in practices and weight training. The way they practice is mainly independent, however, if they practice together social distancing rules must be followed and masks must be worn. 

Child got tested at 9 a.m. when they opened the Welcome Back Testing for juniors. Child said she was able to walk right in and out. 

She said when she got tested the swab tickled in her nose, but she has gotten used to this feeling from previous COVID-19 tests.

“I didn’t have to wait at all. They were very helpful, and got us all right through. I thought I had a pretty good experience,” Child said.