Philipp Müller has been volunteering for the Red Cross, where he works in civil protection, for the past eleven years. Through this service, he became part of the City of Freiburg’s crisis management team that was established in response to the coronavirus crisis. Müller is now responsible for everything to do with communications: setting up everything from servers, firewalls, work desks for computers, and email lists, to Internet connections. In response to the current situation, the University of Freiburg is supporting him and other bachelor students in their community service through the Service Learning module offered by the Center for Key Qualifications (ZfS), which now enables students volunteering for initiatives fighting Covid-19 to earn 4 ECTS credits.

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Whether it’s waiting tables at a café, selling tickets in a movie theater, or checking tickets at events, many jobs students normally do have either been put on hold because of the spread of Covid-19, or they’ve been cut completely. Many students are no longer able to make a living on their own, meaning they either have to take a break from studying or perhaps even quit altogether. In order to help students in this time of need, the University of Freiburg has partnered up with the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (Office of Student Services) to provide a new financial assistance program called “Studiennothilfe” (Student Emergency Fund).

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Within a few weeks, the University of Freiburg has changed its course offerings almost across the board: Whereas e-learning was previously considered a complementary and enriching alternative, digital formats will be the new standard in the 2020 summer semester across all disciplines and courses of study. According to the Corona Ordinance, the only exceptions will be some laboratory courses. The University can profit in the long term from the experience gained in this special semester.

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Suddenly the heart of Freiburg academic life fell silent: on 13 March 2020 the University Library had to shut because of a case of Covid-19. Almost 10,000 people use the University Library every day, then all at once it was no longer certain when they could have access to the books, journals and databases they need again – or even enter the building. It’s taken almost five weeks. In mid-April the University Library reopened its doors, but “we’re still a long way from a normal user service” stresses Dr. Antje Kellersohn. In conversation with Rimma Gerenstein the University Library director reports on her experience of the closure, how the skeleton service is working and why the corona crisis highlights the great importance of libraries.

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Rushing from seminar to seminar, catching rays on the lawn, cycling to the University Library (UB), coffee breaks between classes, and eating at the mensa with friends are all ways the campus fills with life as the semester starts. Normally. But in April 2020, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are also making themselves apparent at the University of Freiburg. The UB, collegiate buildings, mensa, and other crowded areas are eerily clear of people. Only the weather seems undaunted. The sun beams down on empty courtyards and lawns. At some point, the students and faculty will return to the campus – until then, Sandra Meyndt will be using her camera to preserve this strange perspective on film.

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