Neumann University’s freshmen buried a time capsule in the residential quad on April 9 to signal their transition to a hopefully COVID-free sophomore year.

The class has spent its first year of college dealing with pandemic restrictions such as face masks, social distancing, remote learning, and daily health checks.

The time capsule includes a Neumann-branded face mask, hand sanitizer, a St. Francis figurine, a Knight mascot stress ball, a printed copy of the daily health check form, pandemic-era photos and marketing materials, and messages to the future from first-year students.

The notes offer personal beliefs, humor, and hopes for the years ahead, including:

• Innovation, courage, and determination. Change the world.
• Be grateful for the little things in life.
• Did you stick with it?
• Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose.
• You better be a great lawyer when you see this.
• Please stop wasting money on Disney stuff.
• I love my boyfriend, my dog, and my parents.
• Do you even remember college?

Dr. Chris Domes, Neumann University president, announced that the class will be invited back to campus in 2046, when the capsule will be unearthed.