by Olivia Murray AND Suzanne Elliott
Newsroom@DominionPost.com
West Virginia University officials said they have not changed their message regarding COVID-19 nor their plans to help keep the university and surrounding community safe, despite complaints from some students.
A group of WVU students planned last week to peacefully march from the Mountainlair to President Gordon Gee’s home — Blaney House — to protest how they see the university handling classes and sanctioned events during the pandemic.
The protest didn’t happen. But the lack of action doesn’t necessarily reflect a lack of concern from students.
Officials continued to say the university expects everyone to work together to follow the COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
Only with cooperation will WVU and the Morgantown community see this challenge through, they said.
“President Gee’s Sept. 2 letter noted the students and parents who had expressed they wanted WVU to open campus for learning this fall. The university has consistently said that was, and remains, our goal,” said April Kaull, executive director of communications and university relations. “The motivation was focused on the in-person classroom experience and providing access to those students — especially first-year students — who may not choose to go to college without this type of access.
“However, we also repeatedly and clearly stated it would take everyone following the guidelines to remain on campus for in-person classes. We shared numerous times that our students would need to take personal accountability for their actions during the pandemic to protect the campus and Morgantown community. And we thank the vast majority who have taken this responsibility seriously.”
Corey Farris, WVU’s dean of students, said the rules have been clear.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, we have consistently said it would take all of us following the guidelines to remain on campus for in-person classes,” he said. “That means wearing a mask, physical distancing, avoiding large crowds and practicing good personal hygiene.”
WVU’s last day of in-person learning is still Nov. 24.
Farris said the vast majority of the students have been doing the right things, but a small group has not.
Irresponsible behavior led, in part, to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases on campus and the decision to move to online learning until Sept. 25. In-person learning is scheduled to resume Sept. 28, if the number of COVID-19 cases decline, university officials have said.
“We have been transparent throughout our planning that if we determined the local public health situation was deteriorating, the university would take swift and immediate action,” Farris said.
“That’s what we’ve done by temporarily moving most classes online,” he said. “Because all class instruction is being delivered, and residence halls and dining will function as normal, there will be no refunds at this time.”
Kaull said expecting students to hold up their end of the bargain is only fair.
“It is not unreasonable to expect our students — who are young adults — to live up to our Mountaineer values and to do the right things during this pandemic. It is the irresponsible behavior of the few that has resulted in the recent increase in positive COVID-19 cases.”
Answering complaints by some comparing fraternity/sorority and house parties to sanctioned events, Kaull said there are distinctions.
She said the university offerings have guidelines in place specifically to make them safer ways to socialize.
“Many students have taken advantage of supervised activities on campus such as the virtual Refresh Series. WVUp All Night, now canceled until further notice, is alcohol-free, required advance registration for many events and had limited occupancy. The university also had put in place additional health and safety protocols, including physical distancing for those offered in-person.”
TWEET @41Suzanne
