Talent shows, Tik Tok challenges, and even a cooking competition are keeping the 115 Lincoln students living on campus in our halls and flats throughout the lockdown busy, as well as those who have gone home temporarily.
Some of the activities are online, through Facebook, to include students who have chosen not to stay.
Students in their flat bubbles have started an inter-flat talent show competition, by video or photo, with a prize at the end. Many of the international students were planning to explore New Zealand during the holiday break, but they are still finding positive and fun things to do as a flat, with one group growing sea monkeys, having a daily exercise challenge, or just chilling outside in the sunshine.
Online, Centennial Hall is doing daily brainteasers on Facebook, while Lowrie Hall is doing a MasterChef competition, with many students cooking dinner, or baking for their family members. Other halls are doing Tik Tok challenges, pet pictures, an art competition and a weirdest place to study post.
There is even a competition for the eight Residential Assistants (RAs) on campus, to see how far they can each run or walk by the 20 April (when study starts again) with a goal of 100km.
They are doing things that they each individually enjoy, and enjoy as a group. Whether that is watching the news, Netflix or a movie at night, having an eight-ball pool competition, or going to the rugby fields to do some exercise, they are adapting to a much quieter than normal campus with new ideas weekly and enthusiasm for trying new things.
There are specific times each hall group can go to the dining hall, for breakfast and dinner, with a packed lunch collected every day which allows them to be able to eat safely in their own bubble.
Lincoln staff are also still working from home, making pastoral care calls to all students on-campus daily, as a check in to see how they are coping and if we can do anything extra to support them during this time, as well as planning for the return to normal after the lockdown. Night managers are on campus throughout the day and evening, in case the students on site need anything.
