Colleges have been in the news quite a bit lately. With campuses reopening for the Fall semester during COVID, it is currently a popular discussion topic. So, let’s talk about it.
I’ll start off by saying, as a college student myself, I was surprised when most campuses originally planned to reopen. Because they were ahead of the curve in comparison to most other Massachusetts schools, I was watching the decisions of UMASS Amherst most of the summer. My school didn’t quite have enough information just yet, and my sister will be attending a UMASS school as well, so it felt worthy as a benchmark.
Eventually, my school released similar guidelines, and all of my classes were rescheduled as remote synchronous learning (a.k.a. video meetings). I was excited about living on campus again for my senior year, being back in my college town, and seeing some of my friends again. The idea of a normal routine sounding amazing to me.
Then, colleges started asking students not to live on campus. UMASS Amherst’s students were upset to learn they could not return to campus earlier this month, especially students who signed leases for off-campus housing. Their semester, for most students, is remote.
After reading the contract for my own school’s COVID policies and creating a shopping list of medical supplies, I became anxious about going back. I understood the precautions in place, but I also feared getting sick and having to quarantine. Case numbers in Massachusetts spiked, and I knew too many people who were too comfortable with the idea of risking it all to have a good time. I had already paid the bill, but I still considered not going.
There was a sense of relief when the University announced a delay to the move-in process by one month. Classes will start at home, and if things are unsafe, the campus will likely delay move-in again.
Now, watching colleges deal with the actions of returning students makes me fear ever returning to campus before a vaccine. Unfortunately for most students, the parties thrown at UNC seem to be a major source of spreading the virus. Many of these parties are taking place in fraternities and sororities, which I am thankful my university does not have.
Headline after headline echos that the disaster seen in the reopening of UNC shows us why campuses should not reopen.
However, it isn’t just UNC. Schools across the country are welcoming students back to campus, which could absolutely result in more spikes in COVID cases. Students staying safe on these campuses are furious, administrators are suspending partiers, and the environment is not one that feels safe.
NYU, so far, is prioritizing safety by requiring students from outside specified states to quarantine before classes begin. While it seems smart in theory, "NYU quarantine meals" are popular on social media apps like Tik Tok, in which students reveal the meals provided by the school. Students, who are not allowed to leave their rooms, are claiming to be fed at weird hours. The biggest problem, though, is the meals themselves: some are receiving sandwich making kits without the pieces of their sandwich, vegan students receiving string cheese and meat, and some students have gone viral showing off their watermelon and chicken salad (which is just a container with lettuce, watermelon, and chicken).
While NYU is trying to create a safe reopening for their campus, which I imagine is incredibly difficult to plan, there is still a possibility that students from the states that are not required to quarantine could bring the virus to campus. Also, there is still the possibility that students who leave campus for any reason (work, grocery shopping, or inevitable parties) could also cause an outbreak on campus.
There are major issues with false-positives and negatives in regards to testing, and this concern is not one we should simply dismiss. Also, there is only an extent to which schools have control of their students. Student behavior, regardless of how irresponsible, can only be controlled to a certain extent, especially for students living off campus and students working off campus.
I’ll have to say, as annoying as it is to not have answers for the semester, I am happy overall with the way my college is handling the situation. Planning to wait a month before allowing students to move in allows for further preparation of campus facilities. If needed, it also gives campus administrators an opportunity to observe other colleges for the first month of classes before deciding the next step in the reopening process. It also allows them to monitor cases in Massachusetts more generally after the influx of college students to the state.
There are a variety of complex, overlapping issues plaguing the reopening of colleges, which complicates the reopening process. Some students need to be on campus for reasons such as food insecurity, internet access, student teaching placements, jobs, and internships.
Colleges have to balance these issues in addition to a few key factors that impact all students: money paid to the institution, quality of learning, and safety of all students.
Of course, this post thus far has been through a student lens. At the higher level, there are likely issues with contracts, financial concerns, and various staff members (for instance, maintainers are likely in higher demand to sanitize spaces on campus, while the need for dining staff may decrease if dine-in options have changed to grab-and-go only). I understand there are complications that exist in the process that students and parents might not see.
Many are disappointed in the new President of UNC’s statement about the clusters of cases on campus. One press outlet fact checked President Peter Hans, pointing out that the university ignored some guidelines from the Orange County Health Department, failed to update their reopening plans as cases in North Carolina spiked, and did not include the campus’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. It also mentions that students are being tested off campus for fear of retaliation from the university. This is a problem.
Universities making headlines for student parties and outbreaks need to consider student safety and the quality of living and learning before they show concern for the institution losing money and gaining poor publicity. It seems clear cut that students should be valued more than their bank accounts.
We cannot blame students as a whole for the pandemic. A piece was published in The Atlantic on July 21st that acknowledged this probable reality before most colleges began reopening. The idea that students in general are at fault for the spread of COVID-19, when it is the responsibility of the universities to have concrete plans to prevent and manage outbreaks is wrong. I’m not arguing that colleges need to know with 100% certainty that students won’t get the virus before reopening, nor am I excusing people partying upon their return to school.
It is wrong for colleges to reopen for financial purposes and invite students to campus, if they are unsure how they will prevent and manage outbreaks. While an outbreak is not entirely the responsibility of universities, it is also not the responsibility of the entire student body.
Students need to feel safe, above all else, on their college campuses.
While I am still unsure how realistic it is for my campus to open at the end of September, I feel safe because I can limit my interactions. I have my own room within my apartment, all meals are grab-and-go, and most importantly, all of my classes are online. I can operate as a student from the comfort of my room.
I want to go back to school. I miss my college town, my friends, my professors, the local restaurants, and my independence. For now, I am a-okay staying home. I am working to make my room a more productive workspace, starting to get into a routine, and dedicating more time to preparation for the semester.
I worry, though, that moving to campus will interrupt my routine. However, I think that ultimately, I am learning to be more flexible, and I will be better for the obstacles presented by this semester.
Whether I am able to move in next month or not, I am prepared for the Fall 2020 semester. I do, however, hope that fellow students will consider the consequences of their actions more than usual this semester.
I applaud my university for their actions thus far, and I hope that if we can return to campus, my peers will cooperate with the guidelines for our safety.
My senior year of college will not be traditional. I just hope it won’t be taken away completely.
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