PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (September 17, 2020) – There’s a little under 5,000 students residing on “The Hill” this fall in various housing communities. There are a few thousand more coming to campus to attend class or work. It’s busy, but it’s not your typical fall semester at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU).

In the midst of an ongoing pandemic, students are pushing forward and continuing to thrive in their academic journeys. That’s the main focus of the university’s “Panthers Push Forward” campaign, which launched this summer.

There are signs all over campus (and online) reminding people to Mask Up; Today’s Task = Wear Your Mask; Spread Knowledge, Not Germs; and the PVAMU Panther is even donning a mask in some of the images. Regardless, all of these signs have the same message – we should wear a mask to keep from the coronavirus (COVID-19) at bay. After all, wearing a mask could save someone’s life.

We caught up with a few students on campus who are doing just that – masking up to help stop the spread of COVID-19, and pushing forward to make this semester their best one yet.
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Myles Pace

Major: Architecture and Construction Science

Classification: Junior

I wear my mask because my parents are older. I know I’m at school right now, but I don’t want to bring anything back to them. I just want to make sure that my family members are safe, and, of course, keeping my friends and the people around me safe is important, too.

Pace takes a break from skateboarding across campus to stand in front of one of PVAMU’s iconic live oak trees. “I love PV. I am definitely glad to be back on campus. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else,” he said.

Pace takes a break from skateboarding across campus to stand in front of one of PVAMU’s iconic live oak trees. “I love PV. I am definitely glad to be back on campus. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he said.


Manuel Orozco

Major: Health and Wellness

Classification: Freshman

To be honest, I’m a little disappointed there’s nothing happening on campus that’s physical, but I understand. Even though I’m not sick and have not had any symptoms, you just never know. Wearing a mask reduces some of the airborne particles that spread when you talk. So, I think wearing a mask is effective if everyone does it.

Orozco sits in front of the W.R. Banks Building on campus wearing a PVAMU face covering. “I tend to not be motivated when I don't have a teacher in front of me, so I make sure to [make a] schedule [for] myself when it comes to class and restrict all of my entertainment so I can focus,” he said.

Orozco sits in front of the W.R. Banks Building on campus wearing a PVAMU face covering. “I tend to not be motivated when I don’t have a teacher in front of me, so I make sure to [make a] schedule [for] myself when it comes to class and restrict all of my entertainment so I can focus,” he said.


Sydni

Major: Business Management

Classification: Sophomore

You have to protect other people, too, because you don’t know who has it; [the] corona[virus] is everywhere. You can have it and not have symptoms. I wear my mask to protect myself and the people around me.

Sydni pauses in front of The Panther outside of the Wilie A. Tempton Sr. Memorial Student Center (MSC) to talk about how her semester is going so far. “This semester is a lot different; it is a lot harder on the student body because we have to discipline ourselves to get our work done. I’m to keep myself organized by making to-do lists and keeping notes around my desk to remind myself about what I need to do and get done. I feel like staying organized is the key, as well as maintaining a schedule and routine,” she said.

Sydni pauses in front of The Panther outside of the Wilie A. Tempton Sr. Memorial Student Center (MSC) to talk about how her semester is going so far. “This semester is a lot different; it is a lot harder on the student body because we have to discipline ourselves to get our work done. I’m trying to keep myself organized by making to-do lists and keeping notes around my desk to remind myself about what I need to do and get done. I feel like staying organized is the key, as well as maintaining a schedule and routine,” she said.


Eriyaana Greene

Major: Marketing (Minor in Supply Chain Management)

Classification: Senior

I’m wearing a mask to protect myself and the people that I live with. I know that it’s doing its job [of preventing the spread of COVID-19] because when I breathe, I can’t feel my breath moving through the mask.

Greene works on her laptop in between classes. “Being on campus is different this semester, but I still like it,” she said. “I'm trying to stay on top of things. I'm looking on the Canvas site every day, putting things on my calendar to make sure that I'm doing everything right, and reaching out to my professors if I need help.”

Greene works on her laptop in between classes. “Being on campus is different this semester, but I still like it,” she said. “I’m trying to stay on top of things. I’m looking on the Canvas site every day, putting things on my calendar to make sure that I’m doing everything right, and reaching out to my professors if I need help.”


Devin Dunaway

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Classification: Junior

I’m wearing a mask to protect the elderly. People my age, even though we are still susceptible, this disease is probably not going to harm us or affect us as much as it will for somebody who is older. In many cases, their lungs can’t take the virus. The same applies for people who have had previous health conditions, like my mother previously had pneumonia. So, those people who are more susceptible to the virus, I’m protecting them.

Dunaway wears a mask from University View, an on-campus housing community for upper-level students. “I'm happy to be on campus and have my own space again,” he said.

Dunaway wears a mask from University View, an on-campus housing community for upper-level students. “I’m happy to be on campus and have my own space again,” he said.

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For the latest information about what’s happening on campus regarding COVID-19, visit PVAMU’s Coronavirus Update website. You can also share that you care on social media using the hashtags #PVMaskUp and #PanthersPushForward.