University Housing requires COVID-19 testing for dorms with high cases
A student receives a funnel and tube for their Covid-19 test at the ARC on Feb. 1. With cases spiking in dorms, University Housing has required tests for certain students, vaccinated and unvaccinated, to begin getting tested.
November 18, 2021
On Nov. 4, University Housing sent out an email to certain student residents stating that COVID-19 testing must be done every other day.
The specific dorms selected for testing depend on the number of cases in their respective dorm.
“The places in targeted testing change every day,” said Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for Public Affairs, in an email.
This protocol is not new and was created by the team SHIELD.
SHIELD is “a community of scholars with a science-based approach that utilizes the most up-to-date published research from scientists from across the globe,” said Mari Anne Brocker Curry, director of Housing Information & Marketing for University Housing, in an email.
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SHIELD monitors research and continues to make changes as more information about COVID-19 rises. The team’s work has shown that regular testing in the University community is effective in keeping people safe.
Private housing residents can also be required to take COVID-19 tests if the cases spike at their locations.
Testing is required for all students regardless of vaccination status because it is still possible to contract the Delta variant and spread it to others.
“Data shows that early detection of the virus along with isolation are key factors in slowing the spread,” Curry said in an email.
Curry believes the University has done a good job in keeping the campus safe from COVID-19 and that SHIELD has been a big part of that.
“I think they have a great system here to know the same day that you take the test whether you have it or not,” said Finn Marloft, freshman in FAA. “It’s very open to everyone, even just people from around the neighborhood that want to get tested, which is very helpful.”
Tallulah Trezevant, freshman in LAS, is in favor of getting tested every other day.
Both Marloft and Trezevant are residents at University dorms.
“Personally, I think that getting tested every other day hasn’t been a bother at all,” Trezevant said.
When Trezevant’s roommate contracted COVID-19, she was upset with how the University handled it. Her roommate didn’t have a room to stay at first and was recommended to go stay in her dorm room. Instead, she slept in her car so she wouldn’t infect her roommate.
“It was really unfair that they didn’t have a space prepared for her when she tested positive and expected her to stay in here with me,” Trezevant said. “I feel like there weren’t really things put in place to make sure my roommate was OK.”
Trezevant believes the way the University is handling COVID-19 is conflicting.
“It’s been a little inconsistent with the rules,” Trezevant said. “For example, having to wear masks in the hallways and in the bathroom, but then there was a huge concert hosted for the students. Overall, I wouldn’t say I’m dissatisfied with how COVID-19 is being handled, but there’s just little things I find really hypocritical.”
