The non-profit Mississippi News Human resources made its first announcement for the spring semester on Monday, the Monday before classes began at Delta State University. Seven faculty members and staff tested positive for COVID-19 in one day. This number had risen to 25 by Friday, Jan. 8 — a remarkable figure for the small university of Cleveland. One faculty member described the sudden rise in cases as “chilling”. Students and faculty across Mississippi are returning to campus to start a spring semester that they hoped would be similar to normal. Officials from the Mississippi State Department of Health warn that they will be bringing high numbers of cases with them. According to Dr. Paul Byers, a Mississippi State Epidemiologist, “We anticipate there will be many cases and transmissions when college students return due to the current level of transmission,” he stated last week in a statement sent to Mississippi Today. Some schools take more precautions than others. Jackson State University will be moving its classes online over the next two weeks. Students will need to pass a negative COVID screening before they can move into the dorms. Delta State is continuing with in-person classes despite having higher numbers of cases. However, campus feels far from normal according to a faculty member who requested anonymity because he doesn’t have tenure. Monday morning campus buildings were “pretty deserted” and the grassy quadrangle, where students usually hang out, was also closed. This COVID wave has added frustration and uncertainty to an already complicated situation. Official guidance has been inconsistent. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have shortened the quarantine period, health officials in Mississippi warn that omicron could overwhelm hospitals. Many students aren’t keen to go back to online learning after finding it difficult and ineffective. However, omicron has made them wonder if schools could do more. Izzie McAllister, a Millsaps College senior, said that she appreciates the fact that she can still attend school in person, but it was like “I don’t know what’s the risk.” She moved back into her dorm this weekend. “Everybody is getting them. Some students are more indifferent. Hannah Blankenship, a senior at Mississippi State University who edits campus newspaper, stated that her peers want a normal semester. She said that she feels like everyone is tired of the COVID process. “It’s not on a lot students radar,” she said. Since summer 2021, most Mississippi colleges and universities have been holding classes in person. Some schools, such as MSU, reduced the requirements for students and employees to wear masks towards the end of the fall semester. MSU announced that it will require all university buildings to wear masks until February 1. Ellie Herndon is a sophomore at MSU and will be moving into her dorm room this weekend. According to her, omicron has made her feel the same fear and anxiety as she did during the first wave of the virus. Although she wants to return to college, she knows that her peers will not do their part. She said, “As much college students would love to get rid of all this — the masks and quarantining all that stuff — I don’t believe that until we start taking it seriously that it will ever disappear, that we’ll ever have a chance of normal.” A graduate student at the University of Mississippi said that he wishes students and faculty had more freedom to respond to omicrons in a way that felt most safe. He said that professors should be allowed to allow students to wear masks to parties. The university has not allowed many faculty this option. He said that he didn’t expect the school would say “we’re all gonna be online” because it was profitable to have students on campus. “I expected some wiggle space for the professors or students to complete their classes however they feel best.” He said. The student also knows one thing for sure. He stated that he was moving to a place where COVID is taken more seriously after this semester. “Or at the very least, do more to protect their citizens or students.”