As students return to campus, apartments in Kent have implemented changes in order to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Two complexes that have been enacting changes are Holly Park and Campus Pointe. Both have greatly improved the cleaning and sanitation of high traffic areas, while eliminating or decreasing the use of popular amenities.

“There have been more positives [changes] than negatives since everything began,” Travis Brant, the leasing consultant at Holly Park, said. One big change Brant implemented was the use of YouTube videos. 

He began making videos showing how to fix minor problems tenants would commonly run into and then sent the video to the tenant so they could attempt to fix the problem themselves.

For Campus Pointe, the tightening of amenity use has been the focal point, said Kate Page, the community assistant at Campus Pointe. 

“The biggest change would probably be amenities,” Page said.

Amenities such as study rooms, the gym and yoga rooms can only be used during office hours. Tenants must schedule times to use these facilities, so everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy them.

Meanwhile at The Province, there have been concerns that residents aren’t taking protocols as seriously as they should. Consistent parties and social gatherings were something junior public health major Alexis Koston noted.

“I can sit out here and hear all the parties,” Koston said.

Koston, who formerly worked at The Province, said the staff at The Province haven’t been as active as it should be in handling parties. Recently a party at the complex was shut down by security and Kent Police which resulted in fines from the leasing office and tickets from the police. 15 people were in attendance. The incident was cited by Koston as being one of the few times residents faced repercussions.

When security shuts down parties, they report the incident to the leasing office. Signal 88 is the security company for The Province. The leasing office will then decide on how much the fine will be and issue it to the resident involved. However, this is rarely the case, according to Koston. 

“It is as if no one [residents] cares,” Koston said.

Jacob Shondel covers housing. Contact him at [email protected].

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