SMC Fall 2020 / COVID

[franknd]

I'm dropping my son off Monday at A&M Monday, and they are full go. Roommates and everything. Not doing initial testing -- other than temp/symptom check -- and no initial quarantine period that they have announced anyway. This seems a lot looser than the service academies have been, and, as a result, I'm expecting a breakout. So my question is what then? I can see, particularly among young healthy people, the appeal of going for herd immunity, but nobody has come forward and essentially said that's the idea. So is that the idea? Or will this thing turn into a CF once it starts spreading, which I can't see how it won't, much like has happened in MLB clubhouses.

Just curious what others in this boat at any of the SMCs are thinking.

 

[glen]

A lot will depend on the young men and women to maintain discipline and avoid large parties and crowds, and the will of the institutions to enforce restritions on gatherings and off campus activity. Other than what TAMU is doing to check for symptoms, The Citadel does require a negative COViD-19 test for cadets reporting in - both 4th Class today and upperclass when they report later in August. 34 members of the Football team did not report for practice beause they were having trouble getting the results of their covid tests. On a personal note - not sure covid tests are that much of assurance - doctors say they are at most 60% accurate. And the test is out of date the moment it is taken...so.

 

[franknd]

A lot will depend on the young men and women to maintain discipline and avoid large parties and crowds, and the will of the institutions to enforce restritions on gatherings and off campus activity.

The problem is that it doesn't take too many to introduce it, and then it won't be dependent on large parties and crowds for spread. The close confines of the dorms itself will take over. Or so I suspect. The other thing, which may be a difference between Citadel and A&M, is that the vast majority of students (non Corps of Cadets) at A&M live off campus. Once this thing gets into the student body, though, I'm not sure it's going to make much difference where people live.

 

[williamsdr3]

Congratulations on A&M and I hope all goes well but it does seem pretty loosey-goosey. We are Aggies and that was my son's backup plan. My daughter returns to another campus in TX next week but moving into her first apartment this year. I am not sure what will happen there but it certainly does seem like a sure thing to spread throughout the campuses.