By Erica Gustafson, Staff writer
Across the country universities have been struggling with keeping their communities safe from the coronavirus as they continue to educate their students. It is not an easy task, but college officials are working with health and government departments to make face-to-face classes work for students and professors.
These returning students are enjoying gathering together again with their friends and classmates in a face-to-face atmosphere. However, many students are struggling with abiding by COVID-19 protocols set by state and university guidelines. Understandably, students want a “normal” college experience, but these protocols were set to best help students continue their college life on campus.
Many colleges have not hesitated to suspend students for failing to comply with the rules set before their arrival on campus.
SUNY Oneonta reported a total of 300 positive COVID-19 cases as of Sept. 3. The school reports that the recent spike in positive cases stems from “several large parties” that occurred the previous week. A number of these students were suspended along with three student organizations that have failed to comply with protocols. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that any college campus with positive case counts above 100 must immediately transition into two weeks of remote learning. Therefore, SUNY Oneonta has since moved to completely online courses. Oneonta is not the only SUNY school having trouble with students not abiding by these guidelines.
According to SUNY Fredonia Chancellor Jim Malatras, SUNY Fredonia suspended 13 students due to protocol violations. The suspended students were the host and attendees of a “recent” off-campus party. It was reported that at least one of the school’s positive cases is linked to that party. These suspensions are under review by the school’s office of student conduct. Along with hearing of these other universities through news outlets, Bonaventure is experiencing firsthand students disobeying COVID-19 protocols as well.
As of last Sunday, 28 Bonaventure students were suspended after violating the school’s health and safety protocols. Students held a party at the Garden Apartments East, which was a clear violation of the social distancing policies and visitor restriction of the university. The school asked these students to hand in their keys by Sunday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.
Though Bonaventure has only had one positive case since the start of classes, school officials are very direct they will not put up with violations against the protocols put in place to protect the community they have put together.
Students may not like wearing a mask to class or keeping distance between them and their friends, but it is so important for us to understand that these precautions are set in place to keep us safe and allow us to get through this fall semester on campus. It is not a typical semester, but there are still activities and things to do on campus where you can see your friends and make the most of what this pandemic has given us.
gustafea18@bonaventure.edu
