Life returns to the ghost town

A group of children waits in front of the university library, neatly lined up in rows of two. Only a few students stroll along the boulevard. Nevertheless, university life seems to be gradually returning here. On the hottest day of the year thus far, we were on campus to take a closer look...

The entrance to the State and University Library (SUUB) is hidden behind a construction fence decorated with a small photo exhibition. Borrowing books, researching and learning — is that in any way possible at the moment? Yes, but the media library, the manuscript reading room and the microfilm archive are closed until further notice. Since the end of June, the regular opening hours from 8 am to 8 pm and on weekends from 10 am to 6 pm have been back in effect. A step back to normality.

GW2, with its many seminar rooms, offices and large cafeteria, is bustling with activity. But not because people are eating tasty food there, as you might think — no, the cafeteria currently houses a coronavirus test centre. About 80 students and university staff come here every day, a doctor tells us. A few weeks ago there were twice as many. But now the increasing number of vaccinated people is already having an impact.

The scene at Café Unique seems almost normal. Many of the tables in the outdoor areas are occupied at lunchtime — but in pre-pandemic times, there wouldn't be a single free chair here. Meanwhile, the “mensa” has resumed its operations, so you can choose between two dishes and enjoy your meal outside for a deposit of five euros for the dishes.

In the MZH and SFG, there have recently been a few in-person events. For many students, this is a completely new experience, since they began their studies during the coronavirus pandemic. For some, it was a somewhat bumpy new start: where is room 2080 again, does the lecture actually start at c.t. or s.t.? But that doesn't matter, the main thing is that studies are really starting now, says Ravin Khanaka: "Studying also marks the beginning of a new phase in your life, where you exchange ideas with people from all kinds of different fields. At least that's what I thought before the pandemic. But the last few months were really dry. When I was at the university a few days ago though, normal studies didn't seem so far away anymore."

Alexander Rink, owner of the university stationery shop, also longs for university life. Except for a few weeks, his shop has been open during the pandemic. "We just managed to get by," he says. Now he wants to attract new customers with new ideas, for example with CO2-neutral printing and copying. This works via recyclable packaging for the ink and without thermal elements that would have to be continuously heated and cooled. Two of these printers will be installed in the university stationery shop in time for the 2021 winter semester.

The temperature has risen to over 30 degrees, reason enough to stop by the university pool. Here, too, there are many children and school classes. But other visitors are not yet allowed. Didn't the latest corona regulations allow the general operation of indoor swimming pools? "Yes," we learn at the ticket office. "Indoor pools can open to everyone, but they don't have to". Hopefully that will change soon.