KU reports 89 test positive for COVID-19 on its campus
Editorial board of university's student newspaper calls KU to suspend in-person classes
Editorial board of university's student newspaper calls KU to suspend in-person classes
Editorial board of university's student newspaper calls KU to suspend in-person classes
The University of Kansas released the first results from COVID-19 testing as students return to campus.
Out of more than 7,000 tests, 89 came back positive. The university said the majority of those cases are in Greek life.
As students return to campus, cases of COVID-19 are no surprise.
"Everyone expected there to be positive COVID-19 cases in general," Nicole Asbury, editor-in-chief with The University Daily Kansan.
Asbury said she and the editorial board of the student newspapers are urging KU to take action before it's too late.
"The question becomes, alright, well, how many people were those 89 positive cases interacting with, that you know, could spread this virus even further?" Asbury said.
The editorial published Thursday is asking the university to suspend in-person classes and opt for remote learning.
"Just anecdotally, talking with students and talking with faculty and staff, a lot of them are really concerned about coming back right now," Asbury said.
She pointed to other schools, including the University of North Carolina, where COVID-19 has already shut down in-person learning.
"It's improbable to think that the same situation wouldn't happen here," Asbury said.
The university's chancellor, Doug Girod, put out a statement acknowledging that the majority of positive tests were students in Greek life. He wrote in part, "I met with leaders in these communities along with other campus officials to stress the importance of adhering to the health and safety guidelines and rules we've laid out while laying out some additional policy recommendations. And we'll follow up with these groups with targeted additional testing efforts as needed."
Asbury believes it is still a gamble, saying, "It's irresponsible for us to return at the capacity that we are and under its current plan."
The chancellor also said in his statement that since they tested students as they were moving in, students testing positive are isolating at home and not on campus. The university plans to continue more targeted testing, as well as random sampling of the campus population following this first round of testing.