Hello, Colgate Community.
We call our current status a modified Gate 1 for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, this is designed as a temporary pause for infection control, not a punishment or prelude to a shutdown.
We identified two new student cases overnight (one is at home already), and one student came out of isolation. Active student cases stand at 21, and we hope for their speedy recovery. We have 135 student close contacts, the vast majority of whom have returned home for quarantine. The changes you see in the HAT dashboard reflect both the numbers and the rate at which these numbers are shifting. Staffing is at high alert due in part to the extreme overtime that employees are dedicating to keeping us safe.
There is no evidence of one single source of the current surge. We continue to hold everyone to the Commitment to Community Health. We continue contact tracing in accordance with state guidelines, not a stringent form developed for or by Colgate. We continue our close partnership with the Madison County Department of Health, which contacted us yesterday morning to discuss our current situation and discuss appropriate ways to address it.
Colgate is not the only university dealing with a surge. To name just a few, the University of Chicago went temporarily online last week. Emerson College canceled in-person activities. Bates and UConn have both imposed various restrictions since April 1.
Spread occurs when we think we have done so well that we no longer need to maintain vigilance. The variants we face move more quickly than our vaccination process. It’s a simple fact we must acknowledge if we are going to finish strong and avoid worst-case scenarios.
Meanwhile, our POD is on pause while the CDC reviews the J&J vaccine. Six women among the 7 million individuals who have received this vaccine developed blood clots. The CDC is meeting in part to “ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for these adverse events and can provide proper management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot.”
Typically, these clots are treated with heparin. In the rare case that it occurs in a patient who received the J&J shot, it should be treated in other ways. Aspirin should also be avoided. If you have received the J&J vaccine and develop severe headaches, abdominal pain, leg pain, or shortness of breath within three weeks after vaccination, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. If you are scheduled to receive the J&J vaccine, please contact your health care provider, vaccination location, or clinic to learn about additional vaccine availability.
My recent messages have been particularly long — there has been much to convey. I would like to acknowledge a correlation between COVID-19 and email fatigue, but I will still talk to you all again on Friday. Until then, be strong and well.
Laura H. Jack
Vice President for Communications
Take Note
Travel restrictions are still in effect. Departure from campus is not recommended, and return will not be permitted for classes of 2022–24. Seniors who leave will be treated as guests for the purpose of commencement planning should they want to attend in person.
Many members of the Colgate community have been able to register with the county to receive a vaccine at SUNY Morrisville, only a 15-minute drive from campus. Colgate is providing students with free shuttle service to the site between noon and 6:30 p.m. for the duration of the clinic. Sign up for transport to Morrisville, especially if you have already received your first dose and know the date of your second dose.
In response to feedback from students, Colgate Dining Services has reassigned staff and resources to increase hours at the dining venues as follows:
Frank Dining Hall
7:30 a.m.–10 p.m. daily
The Coop
7:30 a.m.–8 p.m. daily
Donovan's Pub
8 a.m.–8 p.m. weekdays
11 a.m.–8 p.m. weekends
Chobani at the Hieber Cafe
Closed through Friday, April 16
Noon–6 p.m. Saturday, April 17 and Sunday, April 18
9 a.m.–midnight daily, beginning Monday, April 19
Students, please be sure to leave a forwarding address at the Coop Mail Center. Class of 2021: We will forward your mail for a year after graduation. We will change your address on any mail that requests it. If your address changes within the year, you can reach us at mailservices@colgate.edu. International Students: We can forward your first-class mail to you, but not packages. If you would rather keep your mail here, please write that on your card. Classes of ’22,’23, and ’24: We will start forwarding your mail after May 9 and stop the first week of August. If you plan to stay on campus, please put your name on the list located in the COOP Mail Center or on your forwarding card.
April 17–18, 4–7 a.m., ITS will make changes to the campus network. These changes will allow ITS to finalize the transition to a new high-speed next generation network that will provide a stable, secure, high-performing service for years to come. This network maintenance will occur during off-peak hours and has the potential to degrade network performance. We appreciate your patience and support. If you have any questions or have difficulty connecting to any services after this maintenance, please contact us at 315-228-7111 or email itshelp@colgate.edu.
Why do I have to wear a mask if I’m vaccinated?
The Cleveland Clinic gives us five concise answers to this single question. 1.) It takes time for the vaccine to kick in. 2) Vaccines do not provide 100% protection. 3) Those who have been vaccinated might be asymptomatic spreaders. 4) We still need to protect those with compromised immune systems and those who can’t be vaccinated. 5) U.S. experts say that 50–80% of the population will need to vaccinated to reach herd immunity. Read the full article.
A Closing Thought
This week’s staff CUdos recipient is: Sarah Curtis, classroom, digital media and events manager and rock star, for always going above and beyond to make every virtual event a huge success. She works behind the scenes to make events go off without a hitch. All staff and faculty members, and students are invited to nominate a staff member for some CUdos.
This week’s student CUdos recipient is: Gabriella Amato ’24 for coming to the aid of her friends in need without hesitation. 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.
Upcoming Events
COVID-19 and Sustainability Roundtable Discussion
April 16
11:30 a.m.
Join Associate Professor of Biology Geoff Holm, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Africana and Latin American Studies, April Baptiste, and Director of Sustainability, John Pumilio for a discussion around the impacts of COVID 19 on the environment, lessons of resilience, and environmental justice implications.
Last Gasp (WFH) by Split Britches
Streaming April 16–23
In the wake of canceled performances, Split Britches were keen to maintain momentum for their new live work while having to "work from home." Last Gasp (WFH) was developed in a site-specific Zoom format using their quarantine/home as a structural visual anchor.
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