UNC-Chapel Hill student newspaper editorial calls on university leaders to face-to-face classes after Covid-19 outbreak

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The UNC was forced to cancel in-person classes and switch to distance learning after at least 130 students tested positive for Covid-19 in the first week of classes. As of Monday morning, 954 students were tested, 177 students were placed in isolation and 349 others in quarantine.

“We all saw it coming,” wrote the DTH editorial board.

Adding: “But university officials should have expected the students, many of whom are now living alone for the first time, to be reckless. Reports of parties throughout the weekend are not surprising. The responsibility of the University to deter such gatherings by reconsidering its plans to operate in person earlier. “

The school chose to ignore the Orange County Department of Health (OCHD) recommendation to restrict on-campus housing to “at-risk students” and switch to distance learning for at least 5 first few weeks of semester, according to the editorial.

In a letter to students addressing OCHD’s recommendations, UNC Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz said the school had taken steps that “addressed their concerns.” However, although the school has taken some steps such as reducing residential capacity, this does not appear to have been enough.

UNC Chancellor Chapel Hill blames off-campus activities for surge in Covid-19 cases

“While we believe we have worked diligently to help create a healthy and safe living and learning environment on campus, we believe the current data presents an untenable situation,” said Guskiewicz.

Guskiewicz blamed off-campus activities for the outbreak.

The UNC is not alone, as outbreaks have been reported at the University of Notre Dame, the University of Kentucky, Oklahoma State University and several other schools.

“We are angry – and we are afraid,” the advice wrote. “We are tired of gas lighting, tired of secrecy, tired of being treated like cash cows by a university with such blatant disregard for our lives.”

North Carolina has the ninth-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country with 145,516 cases, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.

The DTH editorial board and Guskiewicz did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN.

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