Commenting on the relaxing of COVID-19 measures on Tuesday (Mar 29), SMU Dean of Students and Professor of Sociology (Practice) Paulin Straughan reiterated that the rule changes, including being able to meet in bigger groups, will bring back some “normalcy”. “(Because of all the restrictions over the past two years,) there’s a certain sense of restlessness … people are tired, so this desire to say we are out of the woods may be a lot stronger than I anticipate,” said Prof Straughan. “Those who are doing this (going mask-free outdoors) because they need to show themselves there is hope, and hope has arrived - that is very interesting … Tomorrow (Tuesday) may be, for some, a very important day,” she added.