LOL. Thread closed. Problem solved. Congratulations, everyone!
@homerdog
I think it is very unlikely D3 sports will happen. Schools are tight on money, they don’t want to athletes traveling, it’s near impossible to follow the social distancing guidelines while playing most sports, and it’s just easier to cancel so they can focus on other things.
I do think the teams will continue existing and will have some sort of practices. I’m sure your son can continue to run for example. I would keep an eye on the coaching staff though. Schools will be very tempted to furlough them, and that is effectively firing them.
Medical professionals are better placed to put this risk in context. Many contagious diseases have a risk of death or long term conditions, including mumps, chickenpox, meningitis, and yes, influenza. All of those diseases have been on college campuses recently ( and that included victims who were vaccinated, vaccines aren’t perfect). For the college age cohort, the COVID risks are manageable in their opinion. They are also much less optimistic there will be a vaccine in place before 2022.
Stop acting like parents who are not 100% onboard are “nervous gen X parents”, as if we lack the smarts to see that this is all much to do about nothing. You can dig up some experts saying go back to school, I’m impressed. I’ve also seen experts saying they not only think it is a foolish idea, but ethically questionable.
If there’s an outbreak, those experts can say protocols weren’t followed. It isn’t flat out saying, “colleges can/should open”
That’s a huge difference imo
Only bringing it up because I’ve been very interested in the language used in various public statements the last few months
I think it would be fair for many families to feel mislead by school statements but legally the verbiage has been carefully crafted to cover them.
However, keep in mind on this forum what we see posted are the formal statements but right now for incoming students, there are tons of live streams, orientation sessions, and Q&As that are painting a really rosy picture. My daughter’s school has had live stream saying parent weekend is likely happening and telling freshmen about how fun club fair is… later on they said but everything is still up in the air yet this still finished with comments like make sure you check out club fair! If you took these statements as to how campus life is about to be it sounds pretty close to normal. My daughter’s school still hasn’t said masks are required. They don’t appear to be de-densifying dorms.
My daughter is paying close attention to what is not being said. She keeps asking for specifics if a roommate catches covid and quarantine and cannot get a reply beyond we have a task force working on that. She has asked about dining (task force). She has asked if in-person classes will be taped for those quarantined (good question- no idea). Greek life? (Working on a plan) Social distancing on buses and will be more added to accommodate? (Likely want to distance but no plans to add buses). But not every student is digging like she is and for those who are assuming things are practically normal it is going to be a large shock- even more so when most classes likely pivot online at some point.
It is fair to say schools are misleading students somewhat.
I think the issue might not be so much about a disconnect between schools being open but not business as usual, but instead us parents/students looking at the restrictions that a college must put into place with so many people living in such dense housing, eating, and learning arrangements, and trying to figure out whether it’s better for our student to live with those necessary restrictions or better to have alternate arrangements.
I’m not complaining about the restrictions various colleges need to put into place; I believe they’ve all done a lot of research about their own situations and have come up with a plan that provides the best balance that they can accomplish given their location, size, weather, facilities, money for testing etc.
But in looking at what’s best for our family, what the college might be able to provide might not be the best situation for us. This thread has been very helpful because in trying to figure out what’s best for us, we need to think about not only what the school intends to do, but also what they might end up doing because of changed circumstances. Some colleges have come up with plans that sound incredibly lonely to me. Even if that not my kid’s school’s plan now (we still don’t know what it is), they might be forced to implement those stronger measures if things get worse. Our kids need to be prepared for that, and whoever is paying the bill needs to be prepared to pay the whole bill even if they make a decision later that newly added restrictions are just too lonely for their kid and their kid is better off at home.
I think it is good that students will have an online option for the fall if they prefer that, and it will reduce density on campus for those present. I have no issue with those who wish to remain off campus, but I do wonder why some wish to deny the on campus option to others. Do what is best for you personally and let others make their own decisions.
In a pandemic, your personal choices have the potential to possibly severely impact others to whom you perhaps aren’t giving the same opportunity to make the decision based on their own best interests.
This really is one time we’re all in it together, for better or worse. imho
adding: obviously this isn’t an original thought on my part. Lots of folks are saying this.
It appears that the most vocal advocates of colleges reopening are not really satisfied with the likely restrictions involved.
For those advocating more reopening with fewer restrictions, what restrictions, if any, would you consider acceptable?
^I’ve been waiting for someone to ask this question.
@suzyQ7 _ I hope that room has a bathroom to stay in your rules , 
most dorm rooms esp first years do not
I’m all for the restrictions. IMO, that’s the only way we stand a chance of having our kids make it through the semester at school. Masks, social distancing, de-densifying, obsessive hand washing, hybrid courses…all necessary!
I think it’s ok for colleges to open, as long as students/staff with underlying conditions are permitted to learn/work from home, and as long as college students follow the rules put in place by the school. Unfortunately this means that campus life will not be the same for quite some time. I realize that some students might not abide by the restrictions, but then they will have to deal with the consequences.
I know 30+ people who had this virus, and 2 who passed away. One of my friends is still suffering from debilitating fatigue …and she was sick in March. The actual virus “only” lasted for 10 days, but the aftermath of this virus seems to go on for months in some people.
I agree that some are not happy with the restrictions and seem to want school to be as normal as possible (everybody wants this btw), but restrictions are in place for a reason. Things will not be normal…or even close to normal. There is nothing wrong with taking a gap year if that works for the student/family. If students choose to return to campus, however, they should be following the restrictions that are put in place. They might not like the restrictions…but this is part of being an adult.
The NESCAC posted this yesterday…
“Athletics engagement is an important part of the experience for many of our students, and member institutions remain committed to this experience. However, this will not be a traditional fall on campus in any respect, including for athletics. The conference continues to develop plans for the return to athletics, including possible modifications to NESCAC rules to allow institutions flexibility to provide for meaningful experiences for students within school policies and federal, state, and local health directives. We expect to have more details in the weeks ahead and will share information as it becomes available”
It will be interesting to see if certain sports will be prohibited, such as football, while “safer” sports will be permitted with modifications (maybe no fans), or if all sports will be cancelled this year.
I have heard that other conferences will follow NESCAC’s lead.
No problem with restrictions. Personally, I think it is self defeating to have different restrictions on campus than those utilized in the surrounding town, but if schools wish to, they have that right.
@shuttlebus I am doubting at this point that there will be any athletic competition for NESCACs. That would mean kids visiting other campuses which many of those colleges have already said won’t be happening. Maybe each sport will be allowed to train on their campuses.
I’m curious as well. I’m suspicious that anyone that gives the OK to go back has other motivations (financial).
The company I’m working with just punted their re-opening until August for non-essential people. It’s a large, well-respected healthcare company. Lots of smart people that understand the issues. Too many issues and variables to control. The same issues will occur on most campuses as well but probably amplified because the students will live there as well.
Stop and think about any medium to large office building. Getting many people through a limited number of doors, past security, and waiting for an elevator. Think of all the doors, badges, and buttons touched. Then there’s the elevator issue of too many people, not enough room and a mad rush at the same times during the day.
After that, reconfiguring the office space to have the correct distancing isn’t workable with the number of people at the office. Social distancing was never in the design plan. Then there’s kitchen and bathroom usage. It would have to be well-timed, synchronized effort by everyone to coordinate everything…and this is even after staggering work days.
The reality is that campuses (and many other buildings) were never designed to handle all the recommendations by the CDC. That said, we’re sending our son to school this year. We’ll supply him with everything we can and he’ll know all the guidelines and risks. He’ll do the best he can. We’re hopeful but prepared with a plan B to go there or bring him home if necessary.
Seeing how some of the hotspots have popped-up like Myrtle Beach I suspect we’ll know by September if going back was a good idea.
@homerdog. If sports are permitted, I don’t think the visiting teams will be eating in the school’s cafeteria or wandering around the visiting campus like happens in a typical year. I am still optimistic that they can come up with some modified plan that lets these kids compete.
High school football teams are beginning to scrimmage in my area, so my perception is definitely skewed.
I think we are not seeing the issues completely the same.
Middle age people who hate commuting from work and don’t look at their coworkers as their social life vs a college student who considers it their raison d’etre.
And their statistical risk versus losing these formative social years.
It’s a generation gap all over again.
Ultimately this will all be figured out. One way or another and over time it will become a series of stories and recollections more than anything else. Like every other major event in previous eras.