By Michelle Levine

Mike Butler is the ultimate designated driver. 

Butler takes University of Maryland students who have been either exposed to COVID-19 or have contracted it to quarantine/isolation housing. He is the only person on the job, and he is starting to get recognized.

“Whenever I’m on campus, I’ll hear people calling out my name,” Butler said. 

Following a rise in COVID-19 cases during the week of Feb. 21, Butler was driving more patients than ever. 

The university COVID-19 dashboard reported that 160 new cases were recorded from on-campus testing that week, with another 115 positive results coming from off-campus testing sites. Those cases added up to an all-time high, according to the dashboard. 

Just as the number of positive tests rose on campus, so did the number of students in Q/I housing. Two additional facilities were opened up for COVID-19 housing, Butler said. And Butler drove many of them there. 

On Feb. 17, Sophia Baron, a sophomore psychology student living in Washington Hall, met Butler for the first time. One of Baron’s roommates tested positive for COVID-19, so Baron was sent to Old Leonardtown for a 14-day quarantine. 

Baron said  the process to move to Q/I housing was overwhelming, but the university-provided transportation made the change easier for students.

Safety precautions set in place for the transit were obvious, Baron said. There was a plexiglass divider between Baron and Butler. 

“It was very DIY,” she said, but essential to staying safe. Baron said Butler even had her key when he first picked her up and helped with her luggage.

Baron had to wait a few days after initial exposure before getting tested and when she did, Butler was there to drive her. He waited in the Health Center parking lot while Baron, now starting to feel lethargic and sick, waited for her test. 

For Butler, going out of his way for students is his way of helping them navigate an already overwhelming situation. He said he doesn’t feel comfortable just dropping people off and letting them try to navigate the Leonardtown community on their own. And his effort doesn’t go unnoticed. Baron repeated how grateful she was to have Butler there. 

Before the pandemic, Butler, who is the vice president of Special Events Medical Services, usually covered about 1,500 events as an EMT in the Washington area every year. Being the driver for the university’s housing is Butler’s way of staying active in the medical field, he said. 

Tom Flynn, director of Conferences and Visitor Services at the university, is also the team lead of Quarantine and Isolation Housing. The committee decided to turn to SEMS because of their experience with the Department of Athletics, Flynn said in an email. 

Every day Butler checks the COVID-19 dashboard to see the latest case numbers so he has an idea of what to expect. Most days are pretty steady and he drives between noon and 8 p.m., Butler said. He spends five minutes between passengers cleaning every “nook and cranny” of his car, he said.

As a paramedic, Butler was first in line to get vaccinated. He said he got his second shot about three months ago. Even before being vaccinated, Butler said he never felt in jeopardy of contracting the virus.

“Because of the precautions and all the procedures that we do, I’ve felt very comfortable,” he said. 

Emma Stern was driven from Denton Hall to New Leonardtown on Feb. 18 after testing positive. Stern, a freshman enrolled in letters and sciences, was relieved to learn from her case manager that transportation to the Q/I housing — over a mile from her dorm — would be provided. 

“It was nice knowing that people are looking out for you,” she said.

Both Stern and Baron said Butler never made them feel discouraged for being in this situation. 

“It’s nice to just sort of have someone there who’s not shaming you or judging you,” Stern said.

“I know a lot of people feel ashamed if they’ve gotten COVID-19 … but [Butler] didn’t make it a big deal,” Baron said. 

For any students who might take a ride with him in the future, Butler had one message.

“It’s not something to be afraid of … if you’re going to get a ride with me, know that [you’re] going to get a good experience,” he said.

Featured image: Students moved to Q/I housing would be stuck navigating Old Leonardtown alone if Mike Butler did not pick up their keys and bring them directly to their doors. Photo by Michelle Levine.