As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the nation, the effects of it are extremely evident at university campuses all over the country, especially at the University of Nevada, Reno. This effect of the pandemic, as well as time in general can be seen in the comparison between the staircase in both photographs, one from 2003 and one from 2020, the current year. Beginning with the similarities between the two photos, they are clearly in the same location, and the red and white business building is visible in the background of each photo. Moving on to the differences. In the photo from the past, many students can be seen sitting, relaxing on the steps, talking to friends, studying, or just hanging out. The steps they are sitting on are very uniform and open, with nothing in the middle of the steps or any handrails besides on the edge of the steps.

The stairs also lead up to the Noble H. Getchell Library. In the recent photograph, there is nobody on the steps, either sitting and relaxing or even walking up the stairs to get into the building they lead up to. Physically, there is clearly a very notable change, with two separate stairs, one that seems made for walking and another area that seems made for sitting down and socializing. Also, there just seems like more things added to the steps just to make them more visually appealing than the previous stairs. Finally, the most notable difference between the two photographs is the building that the steps lead up to, which has changed from a library to the William N. Pennington Student Achievement Center.

When hearing that a photo was taken in the early 2000s, many do not equate that with a nearly twenty years difference, however, 2003 and 2020 is a very long time apart, though it does not seem like it. A lot can happen in just seventeen years, both positive and negative events can take a hold of the campus and change its entire outlook. In fact, the majority of freshmen students who are currently attending the University of Nevada, Reno were only around a year old when the ‘old’ photograph was taken, truly demonstrating just how long ago 2003 was. Back then, obviously, there was not a pandemic, so students were free to walk around without a mask, sit and study on some steps, not socially distanced, all of the things that have become commonplace nowadays.

Also, because of COVID, many students simply do not go outside to study or do any kind of schoolwork, as most of their classes are online, so why should they move from where they already are comfortable to sit on some steps? Not having to do with the pandemic, the fact that the Noble H. Getchell Library was torn down and replaced with the William N. Pennington Student Achievement Center demonstrates how student needs at the university have shifted over time. In the early 2000s, a library near the dorms was sufficient and obviously drew in a lot of foot traffic as students were crossing the bridge on their way to their classes or back to their dorms. However, the library shifted location further towards the Joe Crowley building, and the old library was replaced with a student achievement center, where many counseling and tutoring programs can be found. This demonstrates a shift in student needs, as now when students are on their way back to the dorms, they are encouraged to stop in and get a tutor or sign up for a counseling session other than just head in to study and only focus on schoolwork.