Taylor University's Isolation Experience: Life in the Dome

Taylor University’s Isolation Experience: Life in the Dome

My name is Logan Lockhart, and I am a junior social studies education major at Taylor. I

am from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and so, like many Taylor students, I was not able to go

home to isolate. I was just recently released from my isolation period after testing positive, and I

want to record my experiences and add to the voices that are documenting Taylor’s response in

processing the pandemic. However, I must first recognize my role as someone writing and

recording this experience. My interest in history, achieves, and primary sources have led me to

gain an interest in creating some first-hand accounts of the pandemic. Of course, I have a special

interest in Taylor’s storied history, and my experience in the dome during my isolation period

seemed like something worth recording as a point of interest in this history. I will be attempting

to recall my experience in the most objective way possible; granted, everything will be filtered

through my own personal perspective. My experience and perspective lend themselves to

displaying the culture and creation of the dome is a testament to Taylor’s purpose, mission, and

identity, and my experience evidence that, despite the challenging circumstances.

I first received my positive test on the evening of January 28

, 2021, and I was released

from isolation on February 6

, 2021. Upon entering the dome, I was struck by the feeling of the

impromptu nature of its creation. Many parts seemed to be under construction, and several walls

erected to separate the men and women’s bedrooms seemed to have been just recently made. My

freshmen year the dome was an extension of the campus store, and I had never been inside. The

entire building was foreign to me. As I entered into the apparent men’s bedroom bewildered, I

saw about 12 beds facing each other with a narrow aisle down the middle. Almost all of them

were filled with other students on their phones or computers, and two men even brought their

own TVs for playing games on their consoles. I was given a tour by the oldest resident of the

dome, David, who was a Korean student staying for Taylor’s J-term program. The layout of the

dome was initially confusing and seemingly barren with a handful of motivational posters on the

walls.

The “kitchen” was at the entrance of the building and had shelves full of food and two

refrigerators. There were also small gifts from Taylor parents with snacks that were provided to

new arrivals. Some microwaves were placed near working outlets across the dome and changed

locations several times but were near the kitchen. I usually enjoyed meals with chips, sandwiches

with cheese and lunch meat, and bottled water. Around the corner, the sleeping quarters for men

and women were separated and there was a private room near the men’s room. At the end of the

row of beds were the double doors that led to the open expanse of the dome itself. When I first

arrived, it was disheveled with chairs, mattresses, balls, and nerf darts and guns strewn about. On

the other side of the men’s room was an entrance to the showers that was accessible by walking

through a corridor with exposed concrete, which was usually cold. The two showers were

separated by a wall and each had two curtains that ensured privacy. These showers were next to a

door that led across a hallway to the men’s bathroom with a toilet, urinals, and a sink. Of course,

I am not able to speak to the women’s room or their bathroom.

It is important to note that I am not trying to criticize the amenities that Taylor provided. I

was thankful to have a place to sleep, eat, and keep clean. However, this was an unavoidable

criticism of the residents of the dome, but I want to address that when I speak more to the

“culture” of the dome. This is also a prominent facet of the student body’s perception of the

dome.

Interestingly, I was in the dome for J-term, J-term break, and the beginning of the second

semester. The feel of the dome changed according to the time period in the school year and with

people coming and going nearly every day. People would usually stay for anywhere from three

to ten days. Over J-term break, there seemed to be the least amount of attention given to the

dome, but once the semester began, food was replenished more regularly. Additionally, the

parents provided a welcoming gift bag with some food and snacks for every new resident of the

dome, and they even paid for pizza from Greek’s pizza to be delivered to the dome every Friday.

The dome itself was just about the most private space available to everyone staying there.

Once classes started, everyone would spread out across the dome to separate areas that were

usually towards the dome’s edges near the windows and attend class virtually. Towards the end

of my stay more tables and chairs were added, but at the beginning, there was only one desk, and

one long table with a good number of chairs, booth style seating, and even a couch all spread

across the dome. One of the most popular facets of the dome were the two provided games:

foosball and a pop-a-shot style basketball game with miniature basketballs. Later on, more

people were added to the dome with more ideas, and we eventually made a makeshift ping pong

table with a wooden plank as a net on a table and used the provided balls and paddles. Also, as

people left, they would add their handprints to a plywood wall with the handprints and initials of

some of the previous residents of the dome. There was even a group of people that made a gaga

ball pit by arranging the booth seating so that the backs of the booths all faced each other. There

was an elliptical and an exercise bike that a few people used, including a track and field athlete,

and there were two 35-pound weights that saw occasional use as well.

However, the physical space of the dome is much easier to describe than the “culture” or

atmosphere of the dome. There were several comments where people repeatedly said it felt like a

sort of reality TV show or a social experiment of some kind. The surrounding windows peering

into the only sort of privacy or leisure space was strange phenomenon. When I first entered the

dome, there was not much cohesion or sense of a group identity. Several people on both the

men’s and women’s sides just kept to themselves and rarely left the sleeping quarters. People

would also comment on how fast time seemed to pass in the dome. It was easy to sit around and

talk or not do anything for an afternoon and lose track of time. There was also an uncanny

feeling surrounding some of the activities that would simply not be possible with the COVID

mask wearing and distancing precautions. Things like sitting and watching a movie, talking over

lunch, and even seeing everyone’s entire face were refreshing and odd moments. By the end of

my time in the dome, I had made new friends and there were even some organized events that

everyone took part in.

There were also some notable happenings in the dome during my time we began

appointing a dome PA, personnel assistant, just like the residence halls, and Jordan Nichols even

made a custom shirt for the dome. Once the appointed PA would leave, they would appoint

another to take their place. This position was mostly just a sort of elaborate joke, but it gave the

dome some character and occasionally, depending on the PA, they would organize evening

events or virtual church services. At the time of writing this, there have been four informal dome

PAs: Jordan Nichols, myself, Lisa Hochstetler, and Jorge Martinez.

On a more subjective and personal note, my experience in the dome allowed me to

understand the Taylor community more completely. I was amazed that strangers could become

friends so quickly in the dome. There were some difficult moments, and I am sure that many

people may have felt lonely, especially being separated from their friends on their wings and

floors. However, personally, I relished the opportunity to experience Taylor in a different way

and get to know more people that I would not have otherwise gotten the chance to know. It was

also a great opportunity to be inclusive in loving one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and

coming alongside people who may be struggling. The support from the administration, namely

Jesse Brown, and the parents was overwhelmingly hospitable and kind as well. The kindness is

and around the dome is a testament to the community of Taylor, as seen in its students and even

those outside the immediate study body.

I also want to address the fact that I have not spoken on nearly anything to do with

sickness to this point. Again, personally, I did not feel sick, but others may have been feeling

awfully. The subjective nature makes it hard to speak to accurately. Many students said they lost

their sense of taste and smell while in the dome, but others were completely fine. The virus

affected everyone differently, but no one seemed to be too sick to go to class or interact with

others. There were also some thermometers provided.

Looking back on my experience in the dome, I am thankful for it. The new perspective on

Taylor and its community was refreshing, and I regularly still see and warmly greet the people I

met in the dome. I know I could not capture every aspect of what life was really like in the dome,

and the fact that now it is inhabited by people who are entirely different than anyone I was in the

dome with does not make it easier to define. Hopefully, I captured a snapshot of what life was

like in the dome at Taylor during my short time in isolation. Regardless, the community of

Taylor has demonstrated Christlike love and kindness in real practical ways that should not be

forgotten.