NEWS
News Editor: Heather Bair – zzzx@iup.edu
Sanitizing Stations are available around campus, as well as in buildings, such as the Humanities and Social Sciences building.
(Heather Bair/ The Penn)
School year begins, pandemic changes way classes are taught EMILY LOOSE Staff Writer E.D.Loose@iup.edu @ThePennIUP As COVID-19 continues to spread over the world, many aspects of daily life have been changed. This includes the way in which colleges are reopening their doors. While some have decided to go fully online, the administration of IUP has taken a different route. “With cases of COVID-19 on the increase locally and in PA, we’re updating our plans to reduce the number of students on campus this fall by about two thirds,” IUP’s response said. The list of students staying on campus include students under 30 credits, ones that require faceto-face classes, most graduate students, international students in the U.S. and ones with special circumstances. The announcement was made via IUP’s website a few days after its decision to hold the graduation for May and August 2020 online, as well as two weeks before the first day of the semester.
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It was also shared on IUP’s social media pages with a flood of responses. Student and parent opinions have been mixed upon this release. Generally, there is some criticism toward the decision coming from both those wanting on campus learning and those who prefer online. Bethany Bailey (sophomore, nursing) is glad to return to campus, but said there should be more options. “I honestly think we should be having more in-person classes, but also have the option for online,” she said. “Leave it up to the students whether they think it’s safe to attend class or not.” For others, students coming back to campus will raise more problems. “I honestly don’t think it’s worth coming back,” said Taylor Nissly (sophomore, biology). Nissly’s opinion stems from what she has seen from other universities. “A couple schools went back to school just to go back home, so who knows what IUP is going to
do next.” Malloreigh Yingling (senior, international studies) was most upset by the school’s treatment of seniors and upperclassmen. She said the school was choosing money over education as its reason for preferencing freshmen.
“I am so disappointed with my university and the place I’ve loved to call home for the past three years,” she said on IUP’s post about the decision. “We have worked so hard to get where we are at now, and you are going to allow freshmen to partake in activities and face to face classes? “If you’re going to make this decision to go completely online, it
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needs to be for everyone.” Some students focused on the timeliness of IUP’s response, in comparison to other state universities. “It’s kind of disappointing how little most universities are taking this seriously,” said Lewis Dominguez (mathematics) on the same post. “We needed this response in early June, not weeks before opening.” Those against IUP’s decision have also cited off campus apartment leases that have already been signed and are non-refundable. IUP responded by offering ways to assist students who are bound to housing agreements. “Off-campus leases are agreements between the tenant and the landlord, so we are encouraging students to contact their landlord to find out what options are available. The Student Cooperative Association can provide legal guidance for renters:” Safety measures IUP is taking include all students receiving a safety kit and a lot of extra cleaning. Sports and some clubs have also been put in null for the semester.
Dining services will also be under change. Food will be mostly takeout, and students are urged to use GrubHub in order to lower lines. Though the Hadley Union Building (HUB) and North Dining will remain open, everywhere except Starbucks will be closed in the Crimson Cafe. Students who have housing leases on campus, but who will no longer be staying, can get out of their contract through StarRez without penalty. A list of in-person classes can be found at www.iup.edu/WorkArea. Though there is no predicting what will happen this semester, President Michael Driscoll remained pleased with the IUP community. Despite the mixed response, he showed gratitude for the students and staff. “I remain extraordinarily proud of how the IUP community has worked together to plan, plan again, and rebalance plans and how it now stands ready to execute that plan,” he said. “In the worst of times, even though challenged and disappointed, Crimson Hawks never disappoint.”
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