By Will Poladian, Staff Writer
Even though COVID-19 is still affecting the world, St. Bonaventure University has felt that campus participation in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 has been good enough to start lifting restrictions that were put in place at the beginning of the semester. This change comes after the percentage of pool testing compliance hit the threshold of 90% or better.
Pool testing and daily health screening compliance holds a lot of power over what students are working to achieve like they want to have a normal life and college experience.
According to a Notice Board sent to students last Thursday, the pool testing compliance rate from last Monday was 91.7% with two floors being at 100% participation. All of those pools tested negative.
The pool testing rate overall is also at 91%, while the health screening compliance is only at 81%, according to the COVID-19 tracker on the SBU website.
There are still some standing conditions. Outside visitors are still not allowed on campus. Roommates, suitemates or apartment mates must agree to having visitors. No guests are allowed to stay overnight in the dorms, apartments and townhouses. Students still need to participate in the daily health screening form as well as the COVID-19 pool testing.
The new visitation protocols now allow in-room visitors for those who are living on the same floor or in the same residential unit. Phase I Townhouses are all considered the same unit.
This means that you are only allowed to have visitors that are from your side of the residential hall or from the same floor of the apartment. Visitors are limited to one guest per assigned occupant. This means that for every one person in your living space, you are allowed one person to be there with you that is not a roommate.
In six person apartments and townhouses, maximum occupancy is limited to 10, per New York State guidelines. Students are still required to follow safety protocols when visiting with those that are not living with them.
“I think the university is dealing with this situation at a good rate,” said Priscilla Contreras, a senior journalism and English major.
There is thought that the university is handling the situation better this time around.
“I think this semester the university has handled the COVID-19 situation better compared to last semester,” said Contreras. “Last semester, things were new to everyone, so that’s why I think things went the way it did towards the last few weeks of the semester.”
Some think that it could have been handled better.
“I would say the university handled COVID-19 decently,” said Nick Saia, a freshman finance major.
Students have saud COVID-19 has made people miss out on the things they love most.
“I miss being able to hang out with my friends,” said Contreras. “It’s my last semester here and I live so far from everyone and it would be nice to see everyone for one last time.”
However, there is some understanding of how the situation has been handled.
“I find it strange how we can take off our mask at the Hickey Dining Hall with our friends but we can’t go see them, but I understand that we are in the middle of a pandemic and some things need to be limited,” said Contreras.
“There’s a lot of mixed opinions about some things like eating at the Hickey, but not being able to go to people’s rooms in the first semester,” said Saia.
There have been some opinions that the university could improve on its handling.
“I think the university could improve in some places, but overall I would take this over what other colleges went through,” said Saia. “I think the university should keep lowering the restrictions on COVID as long as everyone keeps being responsible and allows for them to lower restrictions.”
“I think we should see what happens to our COVID rate and see if (COVID-19 restrictions) needed to be stricter,” said Contreras.
poladiwij20@bonaventure.edu
