You would think it's a college requirement given the amount of students that spend their spring break in Fort Lauderdale or "Laudy baby!" and this year seemed to be no different. The year started off as usual. Students planned their spring break blissfully unaware of the pandemic creeping in on the nation.
"The plane on the way down was basically empty! We took precautions by whipping things down but we were not too concerned" Katie Fish expressed as she reflected on her spring break experience. Students were told, "not to stop living their lives but to be cautious by some faculty before departing on spring break." However, during the break students got the message that all classes were being moved to online only. Many students cheered while others looked shocked.
While the Covid-19 virus loomed over the United States like a big dark storm cloud, it was 80 degrees and sunny in Fort Lauderdale. There was absolutely no sign of concern from anyone. People flocked to the tightly packed beaches and to the even more tightly packed bars. "We were definitely exposed at this one bar. We were packed in there like sardines! I couldn't even move let alone dance and I was drenched with not only my sweat but everyone else's too" Jordan Held appalled by her experience at the bars.
"Even though it was potentially dangerous I do not regret going. It was our last hoorah with my friends as college students! Sometimes I wonder how we didn't get sick but I think it was because of the obscene amount of alcohol we consumed" Olivia Hutchinson reminiscing on her last college experience with her friends.
Central Michigan Student tanning in Mount Pleasant on March 6th 2020, before leaving for Fort Lauderdale on spring break. Many students tan before actually leaving on spring break to reduce the chance of burning and to look tanner.
Katie Fish (right) and Jordan Held (left) have their pictures taken in matching outfits outside of their hotel room by Abi Cox on March 11, 2020. The group then heads to the bottomless mimosa bar where they are joined by many classmates and receive the news the CMU is going online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fort Lauderdale beach on March 12th 2020 is packed with students and there is no trace of any face masks or gloves.
Phi Kappa Pi fraternity marked their spot on the beach with their flag and on girls butts with their letters on March 12, 2020.
Chicken fights were very popular in the sand bar. They would have four girls each on a guys shoulder and they would battle to see who was the last standing. Once there was a winner everyone would cheer by splashing the water and shouting on March 12th 2020.
In the sand bar of the coast of Fort Lauderdale on March 12th 2020, a small group of college boys were parading around a homemade flag on a broom that read "your nudes are safe with me" and at the bottom they had a phone number. This was to encourage the women to send nude photos to them.
Students gather around to watch men and women face off in "Oklahoma Drills" on March 12th 2020 in Fort Lauderdale. This is a football drill where one person has the ball on the offensive and the other is defending and whoever breaks through is the winner.
Jordan Held points to Corey or more popularly known as "Corey Pick Me Up" because he picks up women on the beach by their butt and they get a picture. The only price is that you also have to have the picture taken on his phone as well. March 13th 2020.
Johanna Ruit bites into what is known as a Jesus dog on the beaches of Fort Lauderdale. Christian groups from colleges travel to Fort Lauderdale on spring break and give out hot dogs for free. They pray for the students to stay safe during the break. Johanna Ruit knew some of the people handing out the Jesus dogs and was invited to pray with them on March 13th 2020. During the prayer they prayed that no one become sick with the Covid-19 virus.
March 11th 2020, Jordan Held helps Johanna Ruit put on sunscreen in their hotel room where they have been living off snacks and alcohol.
Jordan Held and Katie Fish shower after a day at the beach on March 13th 2020. The group showered every time they got to the hotel in hopes to wash off the virus incase they had been in contact.
Katie Fish with mascara running down her face after showering. She plans on going out to the bars with in the next few hours on March 13th 2020.
The police walk down the beach on horses at 6pm on March 13th 2020. They did this everyday so they could clean the beach after the students had partied all day.