I think we're going about this semester back on campus all wrong.
A fog of new rules and consequences masks every inch of campus. Individuals who just forget their masks are barraged with verbal warnings of being written up and evicted. Enrolled students are forced to deal with a sea of online formats and Zoom schedules, while not getting to participate in any of the events MU offered in previous years. Paying residents can't find places to socialize in the dorms or elsewhere on campus, and every single building has a mask requirement.
It can't be fair.
What's the point of all of these regulations? The student body is generally isolated to campus, most students, because of our age bracket, are unlikely to be grievously affected by the coronavirus, and many might not even show symptoms. If the virus reaches MU, the students who contract it can self-quarantine, and the campus can continue to function normally.
These points raise legitimate concern to students' experience on campus this year, and how public institutions should handle a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic that has lacerated the world.
A poster display has been put up right outside Alumni Hall, declaring, "TOGETHER, we can do this." President Charles Patterson sent an email on August 27, 2020, that stated this differently, "Our collective efforts, together, will help protect our families, friends, and communities." And Vice President for Student Affairs JoEllen Lindner put in a semester plan on August 12, 2020, "Though we may be temporarily apart, together we are stronger." The message of unity runs through each of these slogans.
Now, this probably isn't advocating for "suffer for the greater good" mottos and t-shirts, but students have been made well aware of the inconveniences we have to face this semester, as well as the consequences for not respecting guidelines.
The University of Alabama (pop. 38,000), as of September 1, 2020, confirmed 803 positive cases on campus and is transitioning to fully online delivery of classes. UNC-Chapel Hill (pop. 29,500) has switched to fully remote learning and asked all students besides around 950 to move off campus, and as of September 6, 2020, has had 1,100 positive cases. PASSHE schools Bloomsburg University (pop. 8,700) have reported at least 249 cases, and Lock Haven University (pop. 3,200) has reported at least 50, and both universities are considering or implementing virtual classes and reducing the number of students on campus. The PASSHE universities have both cited off-campus gatherings as the primary cause of COVID-19 spread.
Mansfield University (pop. 1,600), has around 550 students on campus, following strict guidelines, and most of its enrollment learn online through Zoom and Desire2Learn. As of September 6, MU has only one reported case, which according to a broadcast from the President’s Office, was closely monitored and contained.
The consequences are real: as of September 6, 2020, around 20 students on campus have been sent home, and resident assistants (RA’s) and other supervisors have been instructed to write up individuals for even one infraction of health and safety regulations. UNC-Chapel Hill took action when the number of cases nearly reached a designated five percent limit, which is around 1,400 students of their maximum enrollment. That is just 27 individuals for MU’s population on campus.
27 individuals could have a pretty decent-sized party off-campus, outside the jurisdiction of university guidelines. Five groups of six people could probably sneak past their RA’s and hang out together in a dorm (with a limit of four) room, just for a bit. But either action could trigger a series of events ending in the remaining MU population to be sent home for the semester, and throw the Spring semester into limbo.
In many situations, college included, rules are viewed “by the letter.” Find and abide by any loopholes, or judge, “That rule doesn’t apply to me - it’s just for the rest of campus.” And for something like the turnaround spots in the middle of the highway that says “for emergency vehicle use only,” 99 percent of the time, there are no consequences.
But where this coronavirus is concerned, the “spirit” of the law absolutely must be followed. The MU community can’t find loopholes, decide that you’re being safe enough, or get away with a sick party off-campus. The intention of every mask, health and safety regulation and infraction write-up is to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and any attempt to subvert them is irresponsible to the university, and the near future of each student on campus.
No administrator or health advisor for MU wants to give students a college experience so suffocated they would rather forget it. And the decision was made to give the students the choice. Together, we can prove our collective effort and spirit to survive a worldwide epidemic from our beautiful Mansfield campus, or we can spend it together off campus, complaining about how it’s unfair we can’t be on campus.