Senior year cut short due to COVID-19

Kaye Paddyfote
April 6, 2020

Follow @kpaddy12

It was supposed to be a school year of many “lasts” for seniors at Quinnipiac; however, things took a turn for the worse. During spring break, students received an email from Quinnipiac University President Judy Olian informing them that classes would resume online after break.

Like many other colleges and universities, Quinnipiac students are not permitted to be on campus during this time and had until Wednesday, March 18 to move essential belongings out of the residence halls. 

Students did not see this coming, especially seniors and student-athletes whose seasons came to an abrupt end. 

Senior women’s lacrosse player, Victoria Bobinski, was in complete shock when she found out. 

“At first I figured that classes would be online, and we would continue to play lacrosse,” V. Bobinski said. “Then once we found out the season was canceled, I was devastated.” 

“We had so much potential this year, and we were really looking forward to competing in the conference,” sister of V. Bobinski, Ashley Bobinski said. “It’s an awful feeling to know that the sport I have loved and played for over 10 years is suddenly over without any warning or sense of closure.” 

Quinnipiac seniors are not only missing out on games and practices, but also they are also missing so much more during their last academic semester at the university.

“We all thought we had more time to enjoy our last semester of college but when that was cut short because of the pandemic, we weren’t able to get any closure that we needed,” senior Julia Schade said. 

Many seniors were also worried about what might happen to their commencement ceremonies.

Olian sent an email to the senior class on Tuesday, March 24, stating that the university intends to hold in-person ceremonies at a future date. 

“Let me assure you – we intend to hold an in-person Commencement at a future date,” Olian said. “However, because of the coronavirus and uncertainty it has introduced, we are postponing the date of Commencement 2020. The decision is also based upon CDC guidelines and recommendations of Connecticut’s governor to limit public gatherings and travel outside the home.”  

Quinnipiac has joined other colleges/universities across the globe by postponing its commencement ceremonies.

Olian assured students that the ceremonies will be held in the future. That dates are still to be determined. pic.twitter.com/YeeLrf6IPQ

— Q30 News (@Q30News) March 24, 2020

This year’s senior class is missing out on a number of events and memories with their friends. 

“I was most looking forward to special senior activities to celebrate all of our accomplishments and spending the last few months of my college career with my friends and sorority sisters,” senior Danielle Goldberg said. 

Athletes like Bobinski sisters won’t be able to compete in the last year of their spring season.

“I was also looking forward to senior-only events like lacrosse senior day and graduation events,” A. Bobinski said. “I’m upset I didn’t get to say my final goodbyes to friends and classmates.” 

Victoria Bobinski was really looking forward to competing in the MAAC conference alongside her sister.

“We had a special team that had the potential to make history this season,” V. Bobinski said. “Aside from lacrosse, I was looking forward to ending the school year with all my peers and celebrating the events leading up to graduation.”

Although it was announced on Monday, March 30 that the NCAA Division I Council Coordination Committee would offer spring athletes an extra year of eligibility, the Bobinski sisters say they couldn’t come back if they wanted to because of grad school. 

“I’m staying at Quinnipiac to complete my Master of Arts and Teaching, and it requires me to work in the school all day and take classes at night, so it’s not possible for me to play another year of lacrosse,” A. Bobinski said. “It’s a tough situation because not a lot of seniors were planning on a fifth year.”

Senior Quinnipiac Women’s Lacrosse player Taylor Sanna thinks the decision of allowing seniors to play another year was a good decision. 

“Our seasons got taken from us in a matter of hours and that is extremely hard to wrap your head around,” Sanna said. “The NCAA’s decision to all athletes to get another year back will allow for those seniors who got their final year taken away from them to compete again.”

Like Ashley, Victoria too will be unable to compete next year due to her master’s program.  

“I will not be taking another year because I will be starting a master’s program at Quinnipiac and will be interning at a high school, so it would be impossible to do with my schedule,” V. Bobinski said. “I think it is difficult for most seniors to take advantage of that opportunity because most of us have further education and jobs that we have already planned for.”

President Olian will keep students up to date on commencement ceremonies and other senior celebrations at commencement.qu.edu