Within the past two weeks, NDB finally opened its doors to welcome students back onto campus for the first time in a year. However, with this new hybrid model, students also have the option to stay home and continue online classes like they have been doing for the past year. Some students have chosen to remain online because of various concerns and hesitations for returning to campus, or simply prefer to remain online for the rest of the school year.

The Catalyst interviewed sophomores Desea Bond, Gabby Wylie-Chaney, and Amelia Ailanjian, and asked them about their thoughts on the new hybrid model and their choice to continue online.

The Catalyst (TC): Why did you choose to stay online?
Desea Bond (DB): I chose to stay online because I didn’t want to risk going back in person. I know Notre Dame is safe, but I have asthma so I have to be careful. Also, I would rather wait and come back whenever everything is back to normal.
TC: Have you had any positive experiences and/or negative experiences with NDB’s Hybrid Model so far?
DB: One positive thing is that I have the choice to stay online. One negative thing is that I can’t really communicate with the people on campus over zoom.
TC: Do you have any feedback for NDB’s Hybrid Model?
DB: No, I don’t have any specific feedback.
TC: Would you consider switching to on-campus learning?
DB: No, I don’t plan to come back on campus for the hybrid model

TC: Why did you choose to stay online?
Gabby Wylie-Chaney (GW): I chose to stay online for a few reasons. The first one mainly is my knee. I’m still on crutches, so it’s really hard to get around Notre Dame, especially with the extra walking with the one-way hybrid model. It’s a lot harder for that, and I just feel safer at home.
TC: Have you had any positive experiences and/or negative experiences with NDB’s Hybrid Model so far?
GW: So far, I think there have been both positives and negatives. I think one of the main negatives is that it’s really hard for the teachers to balance both the in-class people and the online people, and forget about the online people or we can’t hear what’s happening in class, and we just have to wait until the teacher explains it. So it’s hard to keep up a conversation.
TC: Do you have any feedback for NDB’s Hybrid Model?
GW: I think one of the main things would just be having speakers in the classroom so that everyone can hear what everyone else is saying, but I think they’re doing a really good job [with] the safety.
TC: Would you consider switching to on-campus learning?
GW: I think definitely I would consider it once I’m off crutches. Maybe if we go into the Yellow Tier. I think Notre Dame especially is doing a really good job, [with] all of the safety precautions. So, I think it’s definitely timing, maybe I’ll reconsider in a month or so.

TC: Why did you choose to stay online?
Amelia Ailanjian (AA): I plan to go back during grading period six, but I chose to stick to online schooling right now because I wanted to see how my peers adjusted to the change. I also don’t think I would be able to keep my distance at school and am trying to be cautious.
TC: Have you had any positive experiences and/or negative experiences with NDB’s Hybrid Model so far?
AA: A positive experience [I’ve had] with NDB’s hybrid model is the Wednesdays we have off, I really appreciate the extra day to catch up on schoolwork.
TC: Do you have any feedback for NDB’s Hybrid Model?
AA: I don’t have any [constructive] feedback, I really like how online schooling is set up.
TC: Would you consider switching to on-campus learning?
AA: I’m not opposed to going back to campus-learning, but I am quite content online so I’m not that eager to go back.