Southeast Missouri State University students gathered outside and wore face coverings for a stage combat class at the River Campus in Cape Girardeau on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. The class is taught by Associate Professor Bart Williams. In his seventh year of teaching the class, it is held outside this semester to prevent the spread of COVID-19, while also requiring students to wear a face covering since some moves require them to be within six feet of each other. Students used broad swords made of wood to practice their stage combat skills. According to Williams, this type of combat requires fighters to keep a four to six feet distance apart so the fight looks good to the audience. Williams said a silver lining of the six feet social distance practice is it has helped students learn proper distancing in stage combat.