What did you think was going to happen?

Members of the Marist Community, 

What did you think was going to happen?

As we sit and write this, there are over 180 active cases on campus. Yesterday, we learned that one of our housemates came into contact with one of those active cases –– this will be the third time this week that we have possibly been exposed. This will also be the third time this week we have all gone to be rapid-tested. It is terrifying how quickly this virus is moving closer and closer to us. The number of people in our in-person classes are dwindling, rendering them pointless. This week, one of us sat next to a student in a morning class who was alerted that she was positive before our afternoon class. We are horrified by the situation on campus. But quite frankly, what did you think was going to happen?

Marist administration: What did you think was going to happen? When you hadn’t updated the dashboard until the end of our second week on campus, we were all starting to wonder what the situation actually looked like. As soon as it was updated, we knew: 28 active cases. We were all waiting for the “pause” –– waiting to be locked down, waiting for you to do something to protect us. Last semester, we went on pause after hitting 17 cases in October. Instead, you dropped the ball and let cases rise by 20-30 a day. Through the week, we waited for the pause while you sent “what-if” emails. Believe us, we know the rules. We were waiting for you to enforce them. We are still waiting. 

When we finally got the email that sent us into a “voluntary pause,” we were almost relieved. Maybe students would take this more seriously, and we could avoid being shut down.  Instead, we were simply confused. In-person classes were still happening with 101 active cases. Students could schedule a time to workout, but could not eat in the dining hall. Your “voluntary pause” changed nothing. Instead of relief, we sat in a constant state of panic, waiting for you to run this semester into the ground.  It is shameful that it took 180 active cases for you to announce that we were pausing in-person classes for the week. 

Nothing has been clear. All communication concerning COVID-19 with the students has been completely vague, and the lack of action is downright disappointing. What is the proper procedure for quarantining if your pool tests positive? How is Marist providing for students who have to go into quarantine? Our friends in quarantine feel abandoned, and we would like to know why. We would like the transparency we deserve. 

Blame it on the students all you want –– you can even make us sign an iLearn site that says you are not at fault if we become sick and die –– but it all starts at the administrative level. If you keep deciding when you want to care about things, the students can too. 

Marist students, what did you think was going to happen? Every one of you who decided to dress up and go to a party, on or off-campus. Every one of you who went to a party or a bar on St. Patrick’s Day. Every one of you who decided to walk around campus without a mask on. When did you decide that you just did not care? Last semester, we never even hit 100 active cases on campus before returning home to take our finals. 

You were away from this campus for three months, while the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to send us all into quarantine again. In those three months, you all seem to have forgotten that this pandemic is still a threat. You all seem to have been so intent on returning to see your friends again this semester. What happened to seeing them safely?

We realize that the general sentiment on campus is that administration is failing, but you have also failed. We sincerely hope the three weeks of partying that you had were worth the damage that you have caused to this community and the fear that you have left in the hearts of those attempting to stay safe on-campus. 

Now, what did we think was going to happen? When we came back to campus for this semester, we were ready to have a full three months on campus. We were ready to be back on the campus that we love so much, attending classes with our peers and hopefully attending limited in-person events when the weather got warmer. Now, we wait. Instead of preparing for in-person classes this week, we wait for the email that sends us home this semester. We sit and watch, as both the students and the administration cause irreparable damage to this community. 

Sincerely, 

Students who want to love this school