Senior Isobel Hooker, a Russian and Eurasian studies and art history double concentrator, and senior Lilly Kuentz, an environmental geology concentrator, have been dating since the beginning of their sophomore year and just celebrated their two-year anniversary this month.

The pair has explored different ways to connect without breaking the community guidelines outlined in Colgate’s Commitment to Community Health this semester amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Both Kuentz and Hooker went abroad last spring, which they say is what has helped them adapt and prepare for being in relationship at a distance.

“Covid-19 has had a strange impact on our relationship, though not necessarily a negative one as far as I see it,” Kuentz explained. “During the spring 2020 semester we both went abroad and had made the decision to be apart for five months … I do not feel especially challenged by the social distancing requirements on campus for these three months. In fact, I see this semester almost as a test or an opportunity.”

Kuentz says the couple has been overcoming possible relationship challenges, unavoidably brought on by Colgate’s safety regulations, by planning fun outdoor activities such as going on walks and bike riding. Kuentz and Hooker live in neighboring buildings and their windows face each other. This unique situation has given rise to new ways for the pair to interact.

“We also started doing goofy things like trying to learn morse code with flashlights through our windows. I mean, if now is not the time then when is? Mostly though it’s just been all about honest communication and understanding, lucky for me [Kuentz is] really amazing at both,” Hooker said.

The pair says they don’t feel some of the stress and uncertainty other couples may be facing at this time. According to Hooker, the key to a healthy socially distanced relationship is trust and good friendship.

“I think that dating during a pandemic is stressful only if there isn’t enough trust, or if something’s not right in the first place … [Kuentz] is also my best friend, so if we can’t hold hands in public or go on dates as we usually do, that’s okay too, we can still do our work together by Taylor Lake and crack each other up,”  Hooker explained.

Kuentz mirrored these sentiments. “While there are definitely some challenges (e.g. no physical interaction) to dating in a pandemic; I don’t feel stressed by it whatsoever. [Hooker] is my best-friend and knowing that we’re there for each other at the end of each day makes everything a little bit easier,” she explained.

The pair has decided to focus on the positives of the situation, rather than dwelling on any negatives.

“College relationships can move very quickly at times, especially at Colgate, and I see this as a time for everyone to slow down for a second. I think it’s kind of nice to spend time just talking to [Hooker] and remembering what it’s like at the very beginning of our relationship when I first got to know her,” Kuentz said.