Verilu Infante 
UTRGV – Since UTRGV has transitioned from a physical learning environment to an online one, students and professors are now adapting to what could be called a major change.
Students in a Fine Arts class typically learn through a hands-on style of teaching, but with this change Costume Design professor Jennifer Saxton doesn’t believe students will learn the same way as they would in a traditional classroom setting.
“It’s gonna be fine. I’m trying to take this as an opportunity for them to learn things we don’t normally get to teach them that I still think they need to know. I feel like I’m gonna teach them what they can learn in that kind of setting, and they’re gonna benefit from that. It’s just gonna be different from what we would’ve taught them,” said Saxton.
Many Fine Arts majors such as theater are required to perform inside and outside of the classroom, but with the precautions being taken due to COVID-19, the University Productions upcoming show has been canceled. As for the rest of the theater season, we spoke to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts to find out the fate of future productions for the semester.
“They’re definitely gonna be canceled for the rest of the semester it’s pretty clear, I mean nobody is necessarily making that proclamation but you have President Trump talking about the crisis lasting 18 months and god willing that’s not gonna be the case,” said Steven Block, dean of the College of Fine Arts.
Block states that for music majors there is a probability that students may be able to perform for faculty. He says the committee would be spread out 6 feet apart across the recital hall, so that they may do diligence in terms of grading, and the student can have a proper recording of their performance.
“It’s an extraordinary time and obviously it’s a serious time but it’s a good opportunity to reflect, and we as artists know how to do that the best,” Block said.
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