2020 marked the University of New Haven’s centennial year, which meant a year of celebration. However, COVID-19 had a plan of its own, and events scheduled for the spring have been postponed or performed virtually.

“One of the things we are working hard to do is to recreate that sense of community we had when we all walked around campus and had that personal connection with one another,” said Stephen Morin, vice president for university advancement. “It is hard not to have this, especially on top of the anxiety we are experiencing with isolating ourselves.”

On April 7, the university emailed a video unveiling the new Charger Horse Statue. The video included an opening narration by Class of 2020 president Christina Genovese, and shows the installation of the bronze horse located next to the David A. Beckerman Recreation Center.

“The creation of this statue was a long time coming, and it started with student ideas about creating traditions and a donation by the UNH Alumni Association,” said Morin. “The installation timing had been planned for many months, and we wish we could have all been there in person.”

Morin also said that other events have been postponed for the fall. The grand opening of the Bergami Center for Science, Technology, and Innovation has been rescheduled for Aug. 25, the Centennial Ball will be on Oct. 24, and Homecoming is scheduled for Nov. 7.

“The events that we had planned, from the Centennial Ball, to the grand opening of the Bergami Center, to Founder’s Day, to commencement, were all designed to foster that sense of coming together and celebrating our centennial year,” said Morin. “Where we are now all living virtually, our goal is to create that same sense of community in that space for the spring and summer.”

Morin said that information regarding other events will be shared in the upcoming weeks.