Moving back in person this semester caused many challenges for younger Pitt students, both socially and academically, but also brought hope for normalcy and a more pre-pandemic experience.

It’s not just your imagination — from “Welsfest” Snapchat stories or a record-breaking number of first years, Pitt’s campus has been much busier lately. The first week of fully in-person classes began Monday, after two weeks of an in-person optional format.

Top Pitt administrators spoke at a virtual town hall meeting on Wednesday, answering student questions and concerns about COVID-19 regulations for the fall semester and fully in-person classes, which start on Monday.

Even though student organizations are allowed to have in-person meetings and events, one thing is stopping Annika Agarwal’s club, Mind Sense, from doing so — the lack of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate from Pitt.