It was 18 months ago when our campus was open to all students, faculty, and staff. It was also 18 months ago we could sit down with each other on campus and do what so many of us yearn to do — to have a simple conversation around others on a college campus.

At Humboldt State University, and the College of the Redwoods, we are in the dream business. That dream shows itself through the careers that are chosen by the workforce, degrees earned by graduates, and by the aspirations of every single student on the campus, including those new students entering campus right now. We come to this campus with the hopes of creating a better life for our families, the desire to learn a skill and trade, the eagerness to engage others in the learning process, to help others through service while using our degrees, and to generally create a better society. What makes Humboldt County an amazing place with special people has a lot to do with having two centers of higher education within the community.

It was 18 months ago, in following our North Stars as a campus and as The California State University, that we held the safety and security of this campus and local community and the students’ progression toward their degree as our highest priority. And we held to that expectation knowing we would have limited face-to-face engagement, limited moments of just being on campus and watching others, and limited time away from each other.

This is the first week when campus began to come alive again. Something amazing is happening on campus. There are sightings. There is a sophistication. There is a maturity. There is a sense of will. There are people walking and talking and enjoying each other’s company. It truly is magical to observe. For example, just the other day, I came into the office and my full staff was there talking, planning, engaging, smiling, telling stories, and solving challenges — just like long before. For the past 18 months this would not have been observed and the meetings were on Zoom. Not this day. We could walk down the hall and solve a problem with a colleague. Walk across the hallway to make copies. It was nice sharing a cup of coffee with someone else in the office. We even had M&Ms in the welcome area.

On this same day, after a few Zoom calls, a simple walk outside brought me to students just enjoying the sunshine and grassy area. Every person I could see was wearing a mask as we have asked — outdoors! As I sat down near two of our most senior student leaders, we talked about the summer, things we wanted to do to help students, and just how it felt to be back on campus. Then, still on this same day, I walked into the renewed Student Activities Center and saw more students playing card games, pool, and video games. Others were watching movies with each other.

As I walked upstairs I found the newest eating venue, Bigfoot Burgers, open and many more students inside. Not one to ever pass up a burger, I ordered and joined more students at a table where we discussed hometowns, our family histories, the summers, and our campus desire to become a model global community (more on that another time). We all had diverse heritages, but the conversation was deep. We discussed colonialism, wars before WWII and how to be a better society, and the similarities among our different families. This was the reason I entered this profession, and all around me, on this day, that reason and many others were being reinforced. And, I should add, you have got to try the burgers.

A college campus and a college town is a place for everyone. Ideas, free enterprise, commerce, and opportunity are present all around us. So many things happen while at college. The most memorable were moments like that day. The casual conversation, the moment a subject makes sense, spending time with friends and colleagues, and discussing how to help make the world a better place.

It was 18 months ago when we responsibly moved these moments to Zoom. This week it is back in Humboldt. Welcome back everyone. Be well — and please get vaccinated and wear that mask. Thank you.

Dr. Tom Jackson Jr. is the president of Humboldt State University.