Hello, Colgate Community.
Yesterday I met with the Health Analytics Team, the Task Force on Reopening, and President Casey to discuss a potential move to Gate 3. Much of the meeting focused on the number and size of parties held last weekend. These violations are being investigated.
I’m sure that the hosts of these get-togethers didn’t simply forget, but please remember that large gatherings violate the Commitment to Community Health and New York State regulations. There are consequences, including state fines, a required move to remote status, the need to drop in-person–only courses, or even the premature closure of this campus. Given the parties, and the fact that two wastewater lines show evidence of the virus, the HAT wants to see results of testing through Friday before recommending a move to Gate 3. Those data will be available early next week. While this is hard, we want to prevent circumstances faced by other schools. (Ahh-ahhh-chew[Dartmouth]).
Gate 3 is designed to allow larger gatherings. However, current New York State regulations limit residential gatherings to 10 people. The task force is reviewing the guidelines for each of the future Gates to determine if adjustments can be made.
A brief digression: A couple of years ago, Hannah Tubbergen ’20 contracted meningitis and nearly died in the hospital. Hannah is not the person on my mind right now, though. Her roommate is. Amina Rehman ’20 looked out for Hannah as she became ill with some unknown bug. She gave her Tylenol for the pain and called between classes to check on her. In the end, she saved Hannah’s life with her selfless concern.
This is an extreme case, but it is the kind of care that Colgate people give each other when the time comes. The time is now. We can care for each other in so many ways — by declining events, watching out for each other, shouldering each other’s fears, having empathy for those in isolation and quarantine. By setting aside our feelings of self preservation for the right reasons: in service of others.
I will be back on Friday. Please take care of yourselves and your friends.
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications
Take Note
This week’s CUdos winners are: Melissa Verbeek ’21, for demonstrating her concern for members of the Colgate community — and for her careful, skillful, Gate-compliant organization of the semester’s first ultimate frisbee practice; Rosie Demers ’22 and Nemo Neubauerova ’22, for their efforts to build camaraderie, empowerment, and a sense of pride within Colgate’s international and ESL communities. All Colgate community members (faculty, staff, and students) are encouraged to submit a CUdos nomination. All students, on campus or remote, are eligible. Take a minute to recognize a student or classmate who warrants praise.
If you are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine in New York State, there have been many appointment times available at the State Fair Grounds in Syracuse. You can check your eligibility and make an appointment here even as you wait for further details on Colgate’s own point of dispensing.
Speaking of vaccine eligibility, the governor’s office clarified this week that food service workers on college campuses qualify in Group 1B for vaccination with restaurant workers. They can receive their dose at all state-run mass vaccination sites (i.e. the Javits Center in NYC, Rochester Dome Arena, and many others across the state). Schedule an appointment through the Am I Eligible website.
A Closing Thought
Congratulations to Employee of the Year Dan Gough, associate vice president for campus safety, emergency management, and environmental health and safety!
"On any given day, in any given year, Dan works tirelessly to maintain the safety and security of the campus community. However, this year, he has gone above and beyond in providing steadfast leadership, managing this public health crisis."
- Christopher Wells, senior advisor to the president
Upcoming Events
NASC Colloquium: Mitigating Bias in the STEM Community: Strategies and Best Practices
March 5
3:30 p.m.
Johnna Frierson, assistant dean of graduate postdoctoral diversity and inclusion at Duke University School of Medicine, will define pertinent terminology and share best practices to create a more inclusive and robust scientific community.
Heretics Club: "Healing Through Psychotherapy" with Deborah Pollack
March 4
Noon
Please join the Office of the Chaplains in welcoming Deborah Pollack, clinical psychologist to Heretics Club.
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