The Geneseo administration’s response to the pandemic has been disorganized. It has left many students confused about the protocol for testing and quarantining, which may be a factor in the surge of positive COVID-19 cases in the Geneseo community.
Students weren’t informed about the protocol for returning to campus for the spring semester until Jan. 20, less than a month before the first day of classes. Principal Administrator of Student Health and Counseling Megan Syfrett sent out a lengthy email to the student body with information about new guidelines for the spring semester. Some students weren’t checking their emails during the break, while many others were confused. The email was unclear about how soon students had to get tested before returning and upon arriving. In a follow-up email from Syfrett on Jan. 25, it also mentioned that if students “test 1/25 or 1/28, [they] must also test 2/1,” although the purpose of this was never explained. Many students were also unsure about how to sign up for the mandatory weekly pool testing that both on-campus and off-campus students had to participate in.
Additionally, while the emails did state that students had to quarantine until receiving their negative test results, this practice wasn’t emphasized. This could’ve led some to believe that just by getting tested, they were safe to continue hanging out with friends. The administration should send out separate emails and texts that educate students about quarantine and social-distance practices so this important information doesn’t get lost in all the required tests that students must take.
With multiple emails from the administration about the rising number of positive cases in the first two weeks of the semester, many students and faculty were worried about the campus closing down. However, once the cases passed 100 on Feb. 12, President Denise Battles was quick to email the student body that they were “confident that the restrictions and aggressive testing [they’ve] put into place will allow us to continue to provide a safe in-person learning environment for our students, faculty, and staff.” It’s puzzling why they didn’t decide to make in-person classes and activities remote and prevent further spread of the virus.
The administration appears to be making an effort to dispel confusion, starting with a video from Battles in an email on Feb. 15. The video encouraged the Geneseo community to actively be “Knights protecting Knights.” Battles also sent out an email regarding the “Clarification on “Pause” number and “Campus Operations” to the student body on Wednesday evening, alleviating some of the confusion about why Geneseo hasn’t gone fully remote.
Still, the administration should strive to communicate consistently and clearly with their students and faculty. They should also carefully consider more ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for on- and, especially off-, campus students.