WVU gets football while schools stay closed
After reading the column by Sean Manning (DP-08-31-20), I wanted to follow up on the cause and effect. As of Sept. 1, 68% of Mon County cases are in the 10-19 and 20-29 age groups. Knowing what’s seen around campus housing and in bars, that could probably be narrowed to 18- to 25-year-olds. The sad thing is these so called “educated youth” have caused Mon County to not only lose sports but also, as long as we stay red, the ability to send kids to school.
The biggest hypocrisy of it all is the irresponsible actions by the college students and a weak response from WVU leadership to create no consequences for them individually or as an institution. Hundreds of students are at these house parties and bars — but only possible disciplinary action for a handful of students.
Parents will have to forego working to stay home with their children. Loss of income is a real consequence. Close to 90% of the cases reported in our county are directly tied to WVU. Yet these students will still be able to go to school and the university can continue with sports and make their money. All the while we see no real action taken by the WVU leadership. A hearing after multiple violations could take weeks or months. Maybe by then students could actually start spreading the virus outside the WVU community.
The county and state officials and the governor should step in. The university should have to comply with the standards for schools and sports in our county. That would send them all home and cancel their precious football games and the money with it. Then they might care about their shared community responsibility a little more.
Now the county and state are discussing whether student infections should be counted in our COVID reporting. That only seems to solve the local school/sports problem. In the end it will not stop or change the behavior of these students or take away the money that WVU seems to care about much more than our community.
Toby Spohn
Morgantown
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Camille Burt
Morgantown
