Falling Back Into Class
By : Fresno State Focus Staff
Fall semester at Fresno State is back in full swing, going forward with in-person and online courses and bringing old responsibilities to new faces. From students to staff, everyone is readjusting.
From the Speech Arts building to the Fresno State library, students packed the campus for most of the day. Natalie Hernandez, a fourth-year student majoring in accounting, did not expect campus to be so busy.
“I was surprised how many students were here on campus today,” Hernandez said.
Staff helped set up canopies, chairs, and activities on campus. George Gonzales is the maintenance supervisor for the University Student Union. Gonzales started in February and is still learning the ins and outs of campus himself.
“We’re pretty busy helping everybody out,” Gonzales said. “With this event, set up and tear down, making sure everyone was checking in and in the right lines.”
Even for Gonzales, seeing all the students on campus was a bit jarring.
“It was a wake-up call. It was almost elbow to elbow,” Gonzales said.
Many students have different reasons to be excited about the new semester. Campus clubs are out and ready. Sororities and fraternities are busy looking for new recruits.
The Fresno State Lambdas are one of the university’s nine multicultural sororities. Jasmine Anaya, who’s been a member since fall 2021, said the Lambdas helped make Fresno feel like her home away from home.
“Once you join a sorority, it’s for life,” Anaya said. “They’re going to be there for you years from now. I just joined, and I already have so many connections!”
The Lambda Thetas will be set up in front of the old student union throughout the months of August and September.
Other students are still unsure where the opportunities at Fresno State will take them like Magaly Flores, an undeclared sophomore. She is still exploring what her career path will be, which can make the first day of class a little more stressful.
“Today is a busy day,” Flores said. “I had three classes today, and they are back-to-back, so it feels kinda stressful. This is my first time having back-to-back classes with only a ten-minute break. So I kind of feel like I haven’t had a breath.”
As for the construction on campus, The Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union is still closed, but the construction fences from last year are down, so students can get an closer look at the building just next to the Fresno State Collegian and Speech Arts.
With all the moving parts and people going every which way on campus, seeing all of the faces is another reminder that we are slowly pulling away from the pandemic that paralyzed the nation just two years ago. One thing is for sure, Fresno State is back with its many students and traditions.