Problems With Closing Colleges For Coronavirus

[Halloweenqueen]

I have four kids in various Washington Universities. I only have one who lives off campus and it doesn't make sense for me to pay for additional expenses keeping him there. We are going up today to bring him home with most of his things since he may not return long term. We have the apartment to August at least, so we are going to turn down the heat, etc and lock it up. Cheaper to have everyone home to feed as we go through this in the next few months. (hopefully few)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think the biggest virus exposure area on campus is the dining hall. Especially any "bar" where students serve themselves. My son is doing remote classes but the campus is open including the dining halls. Kind of a strange compromise.

I would imagine if the campus stays open it makes more sense to keep the dining halls open. Where are the students going to be able to get food? If you close everything down completely different story. If you're keeping campus and dorm halls closing dining halls won't make sense. No decision any school (University, K-12) makes is going to remove any and all exposure risks. It's impossible. Students staying and students going home they are all at risk somewhere. Going remote would reduce a portion of that risk.

That said not every University is set up the same way. I don't have the full details anymore because some things have changed since I've been there (like dorm halls demolished) but there was a place on the main hill where there were multiple dorm halls located at where you would swap out your dining credit for pre-packed "brown bag" style meals. I took advantage of that a lot when I was working late because I didn't have the opportunity to get to the dining hall for dinner. That's probably an option for a portion of students.

 

[hellow]

I think this is when parents need to pull the parent card and the purse strings if necessary to get their kids to leave campuses. Social distancing will not happen if too many kids stay on campus. This is a national health crises. Parents need to man up.

DH and I are working through this with our DD now. She doesn’t want to come home because all her friends are staying. Flattening the curve be damned (according to the kids). Fun is more important. We are doing everything in our power to get her home.

SPOT ON!! Although many on this thread do not agree with my viewpoint, I also live in a college town. I drove past the campus today after they went to online only and closed all the schools in the state. The row where there are restaurants right next to campus was FILLED with students hanging out. There were lines coming out the restaurants going all the way down the block and everyone was laughing and partying. My thoughts do not align 100% with the "flatten the curve" people, but I also see day to day how students act in a college town. My first worry was that many businesses would be hurt with losing all the students they depend on during the school year to survive, but my initial post is playing out in front of me.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

SPOT ON!! Although many on this thread do not agree with my viewpoint, I also live in a college town. I drove past the campus today after they went to online only and closed all the schools in the state. The row where there are restaurants right next to campus was FILLED with students hanging out. There were lines coming out the restaurants going all the way down the block and everyone was laughing and partying. My thoughts do not align 100% with the "flatten the curve" people, but I also see day to day how students act in a college town. My first worry was that many businesses would be hurt with losing all the students they depend on during the school year to survive, but my initial post is playing out in front of me.

Though it was made a point to say not all students are acting nor would act like it's a free for all party time as there are many more priorities for many students than that, it's also the "parents man up", "pull the purse strings" aspect.

What do you want the parents to do kidnap their kids? What are you the parent going to do by threatening them--"I won't pay for your college anymore if you don't come with me now?"

It's one thing if the student has no real issue coming home or voluntarily says "I'm going to come home". Posters are just saying they would leave that decision to their student to make.

 

[luvsJack]

SPOT ON!! Although many on this thread do not agree with my viewpoint, I also live in a college town. I drove past the campus today after they went to online only and closed all the schools in the state. The row where there are restaurants right next to campus was FILLED with students hanging out. There were lines coming out the restaurants going all the way down the block and everyone was laughing and partying. My thoughts do not align 100% with the "flatten the curve" people, but I also see day to day how students act in a college town. My first worry was that many businesses would be hurt with losing all the students they depend on during the school year to survive, but my initial post is playing out in front of me.

I live in a college town. Two universities--state school and a large private school. Both are closed now for two weeks. NOTHING like what you just described. Just got back from picking up lunch and its just the opposite, dead.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Not all students can go home on such short notice. Not all students were ever going to go home on spring break because their parents (or them) don't have flight money at this time (they can only afford to go home at the end of the semester). Not all students have a home to go to this time of year or any time of year. Not all students have money for food if they close the dining halls. They just won't eat. For some, college dorms are their safe haven from their jacked up life (homelessness, poverty, etc.)

Some of these are reasons my son's college gave for not closing the dorms and dining halls.

I think many on this board come from a place of privilege and don't understand the ramifications for some people.

Right now in my area there are a lot of talks on how to get food to kids who get free and reduced lunches if school closes (which I expect is coming soon). For some....they just won't eat if school is closed.

One solution for some of the districts in this situation is to have a food box pick up for each child who gets free lunch. They would pick up on Monday from 10-12pm. It would have breakfast and lunch for the week. Mostly non perishables like boxes of cereal, canned goods, pasta, mac and cheese, etc. This would happen every week that school is closed. This is how serious it is for some kids.

 

[Wendy31]

Though it was made a point to say not all students are acting nor would act like it's a free for all party time, it's the "parents man up", "pull the purse strings" aspect that is pulling the comments. What do you want the parents to do kidnap their kids? What are you the parent going to do by threatening them--"I won't pay for your college anymore if you don't come with me now?"

It's one thing if the student has no real issue coming home or voluntarily says "I'm going to come home". Posters are just saying they would leave that decision to their student to make.

I get this. Our DD is 20. She’s quite capable of making her own decisions & has pretty good head on her shoulders. Our older DS 18. He’s... not quite as capable yet as his big sister. LOL! But he’s still pretty responsible.

However, I also get what the other PP is saying too.

A LOT of college students (a lot - not all!) aren’t taking COVID-19 seriously - just like they really don’t take other sickness seriously. Additionally, since they’re not in the target group for serious problems w/ the virus, it means even less to them.

MANY of the college students at my kids’ college were very upset that the college is going to online instruction. DD has a friend who was in tears that she was going to have be home for longer than just spring break. She was worried her parents were going to give her chores to do while she was at home. LOL!

(Also, too, some kids CANNOT go home.)

But college kids are not typically going to social distance themselves at all... which is fine, until one them gets sick... which is one reason sicknesses spread so easily on college campuses.

And, in this instance, they can also end up spreading the virus to others who ARE at risk.

All these schools & colleges are cancelling in-person classes... the only way this is going to work if people take it seriously & not use it as extra “get together” time, & I’m not just talking about the college kids, I’m talking about the elementary & high school kids too.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I get this. Our DD is 20. She’s quite capable of making her own decisions & has pretty good head on her shoulders. Our older DS 18. He’s... not quite as capable yet as his big sister. LOL! But he’s still pretty responsible.

However, I also get what the other PP is saying too.

A LOT of college students (a lot - not all!) aren’t taking COVID-19 seriously - just like they really don’t take other sickness seriously. Additionally, since they’re not in the target group for serious problems w/ the virus, it means even less to them.

MANY of the college students at my kids’ college were very upset that the college is going to online instruction. DD has a friend who was in tears that she was going to have be home for longer than just spring break. She was worried her parents were going to give her chores to do while she was at home. LOL!

(Also, too, some kids CANNOT go home.)

But college kids are not typically going to social distance themselves at all... which is fine, until one them gets sick... which is one reason sicknesses spread so easily on college campuses.

And, in this instance, they can also end up spreading the virus to others who ARE at risk.

Right which is why I made a point to mention that while my mom couldn't "man up" or "pull the purse strings" with me she still gave me advice. Just because I was quite independent didn't mean my mom would never discuss her opinions or viewpoint with me or that I wouldn't discuss the same with her. The decision lie with me in the end--which is what posters are saying they would do.

It's not about not getting the other person's side though.

No one is saying you can't (edited: corrected word) express your concerns with your students or have any sorts of discussion, you certainly can if you like.

And really I think applying what some individuals are doing and saying all are like that and making generalized viewpoints based on that is kinda a point. If chores were my only concern in college I suppose I would have been golden lol.

All these schools & colleges are cancelling in-person classes... the only way this is going to work if people take it seriously & not use it as extra “get together” time, & I’m not just talking about the college kids, I’m talking about the elementary & high school kids too.

But again you're looking at trying to eliminate any and all exposure. That's not the point anyways. Reduction not elimination is what's going on.

I already mentioned in this thread there were 1,000 person lecture halls at my alma mater. 1,000 people right next to each other for the entire class time, times that by multiple courses taught with that times that by multiple days. Of course restaurants and the like have the potential for exposure..but at least not having up to 1,000 people sitting next to each other with elbows touching for days on end would certainly reduce that.

Now as far as K-12 yes getting together in groups is something to for sure keep in mind. My husband reminded me though for the k-12 at least it's not continual contact for 8 hours a day like they would if school was in session. Playing basketball with your friends at your friends house of course is still exposure but at least it's not in the building with all the other kids. The district I'm assigned in will be going for Spring Break starting Monday. They announced that they will close the schools for today in order to deep clean all the buildings in the district and sent out reminders and good practices for the kids when they are on Spring Break. What decision they opt to do after that I'm sure will greatly depend on the situation in the metro at that time. I can't say what the right decision is because so much of it depends. I think on one hand the schools that have Spring Breaks right now are in the best position as the virus is making its way around as there is far more leeway in the school's schedule and disruption in learning. On the other hand Spring Break can increase exposure moreso with travel plans--double edge sword.

 

[hellow]

I live in a college town. Two universities--state school and a large private school. Both are closed now for two weeks. NOTHING like what you just described. Just got back from picking up lunch and its just the opposite, dead.

I'm sorry for the businesses that depend on the students to stay afloat.

 

[pryncess527]

.

A LOT of college students (a lot - not all!) aren’t taking COVID-19 seriously - just like they really don’t take other sickness seriously. Additionally, since they’re not in the target group for serious problems w/ the virus, it means even less to them.

Which is why it’s all that much more important to separate them from their professors and university staff and employees who likely are at significantly higher risk. online education accomplishes that goal.

 

[luvsJack]

I'm sorry for the businesses that depend on the students to stay afloat.

yeah me too. There are some whose customer base is almost 100% college students. They can float through spring break but this is going to really hurt them. Any that have a delivery service will be ok but the little coffee shops and such are going to be in trouble.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm sorry for the businesses that depend on the students to stay afloat.

It's not just students.

There are businesses in our metro that are concerned it will be just like post 9/11 restaurants is one industry. The cancellations (of which there were many) that had to occur because of the city's state of emergency or occured as a result of 'using caution' have large ramifications.

This is straight from the news story that ran last night: "(Some companies) just have no way to make payroll over the next several months because all of their income has basically ceased to exist for the next month, two months right now," "And if that gets longer and longer. It could affect even being able stay open.” Small business are in very real danger of closing up should the situation in our area stay for a long time. The mayor of the city that has the state of emergency put it for 3 weeks at this point in large part because he knows the strain it has on businesses, on people's ability to pay rent and feed their children, etc.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

double post

 

[bethbuchall]

The economic fall out of all of this has me very concerned. There are so many who cannot take this kind of hit and survive.

 

[pryncess527]

Not to beat a dead horse, but this is exactly why the decision to refuse the WHO tests and develop our own was so frustrating. I still have not seen a single justification for that decision

It wasted valuable time and created a situation where more things must shut down to flatten the spread because we can’t wait for the data to make more targeted decisions. Because of our delay, public health officials have to assume it’s everywhere and act accordingly

The economic & social impact of this could have been better if we knew more. Why did we refuse the WHO test???? I haven’t even seen the Why addressed, only people lamenting the error.

 

[erc]

So this was my son this week on spring break in response to me telling him to practice social distancing. "Oh did I tell you I met this girl whose mother is a nurse who treated the first COVID-19 patient in our state?"

 

[luvsJack]

The economic fall out of all of this has me very concerned. There are so many who cannot take this kind of hit and survive.

We were just discussing this last night. Well, on the scale of our own family. Of the 8 adults, 3 have very economic driven jobs.

The worst will be SIL. He is a car salesman. In a bad economy, cars don't sell. So, before the company even thinks about laying off, his pay could drop horribly. And they just bought a house. DD can pay their bills on her pay but it would be tight for them. And scary.

 

[Searc]

Not to beat a dead horse, but this is exactly why the decision to refuse the WHO tests and develop our own was so frustrating. I still have not seen a single justification for that decision

It wasted valuable time and created a situation where more things must shut down to flatten the spread because we can’t wait for the data to make more targeted decisions. Because of our delay, public health officials have to assume it’s everywhere and act accordingly

The economic & social impact of this could have been better if we knew more. Why did we refuse the WHO test???? I haven’t even seen the Why addressed, only people lamenting the error.

We can't talk about why the tests were refused.

 

[pryncess527]

I was genuinely hoping there was a non political reason

 

[godisney14]

The economic fall out of all of this has me very concerned. There are so many who cannot take this kind of hit and survive.

This is unfortunately the consequence of not having done more to prepare when we saw the signs in China and Italy. It will be even worse in 2 weeks unless EVERYONE gets on board with social distancing to slow down the spread. If we have pockets of people here and there not taking it seriously, the practice won't be effective. Make no mistake, the virus will not go away until a vaccine is developed and approved for commercial distribution next year (hopefully).

The whole point about social distancing and closing down businesses/schools/events is to slow down the spread, not stop the spread. By slowing it down, the healthcare infrastructure will not be overwhelmed by surge in intensive care patients. When you have a surge, even doctors and nurses become infected, there's not enough ventilators and beds, and things only spiral downward--example, Italy and Iran.

No amount of tax cuts and bailouts can affect the virus. Throwing money at people won't do the job either. The virus isn't sensitive to any fiscal policy. This isn't like the housing recession.