Peter Jaskiewicz

Six months ago, all Penn State classes moved to remote learning for the second half of the Spring 2020 semester. In-person classes have returned for the Fall 2020 semester, but COVID-19 cases are still on the rise.

Recently, Penn State University Park has received 68 positive on-demand test results and one positive random testing result from student testing between September 18 and 20. As of September 25, there were 2,124 cases at University Park, while only one on-demand testing positive result exists on the Abington Dashboard.

Around the start of the semester last month, there was a video circulating online that showed Penn State students ignoring safety guidelines at a party. The incident led to the suspension of the Philadephia Lambda chapter of Phi Kappa Psi. President Eric Barron called the behavior unacceptable. His message asked students if they wanted to be the one who would send everyone home and emphasized the importance of health and safety.

For the moment, Barron’s words have made an impact on students as the spread of the virus is currently under control, and in-person classes are still on-going.

But other campuses have made examples of students who wished to go against the safety guidelines. Clemson University suspended students and student organizations after reports of off-campus parties during the Clemson Tigers’ first home football game this past weekend. And this comes after officials announced students could be suspended or expelled for violating guidelines.

Northeastern University dismissed 11 students after they violated public health protocols. These students will not be receiving refunds on any payments they made for the semester. However, while the suspension remains standing after an appeal, students will be credited with a portion of their funds back.

Similar incidents like these have occurred at other universities across the country, but it’s becoming apparent that these parties cause students to be suspended or expelled. Students are returning to campus, but now is not the time to relax like we used to. Not having parties for a while is a sacrifice, but it’s one worth having for the health and safety of everyone.

Regardless of what campus they attend, students must ask themselves this: Do you want to be the reason why everyone gets sent home?