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Classrooms exempted from new Region 4 gathering size limits

Tuesday, Aug 18, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Today, new COVID-19 restrictions are imposed on Region 4, which covers the Metro East. Click here for more info. There are exceptions, though. Here’s Molly Parker with one…

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Region 4. But Doug McIlhagga, SIU Edwardsville spokesman, said the campus was informed by the Illinois Board of Higher Education that reducing the number of people who may gather from 50 to 25 people in the Metro East does not apply to classrooms.

13 Comments

- TheInvisibleMan - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:16 am:
These half measures and constant micro managing of exception to the rules are exactly why we are still dealing with this.

One thing is certain now, when faced with the hard choices that need to be made the country has fallen flat on its face.

- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:22 am:
50 people jammed into one small place with little ventilation. What could go wrong?

- AnonymousFool - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:28 am:
Oh I can’t wait for the national news on this. When will we learn?

- A Guy - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:30 am:
==50 people jammed into one small place with little ventilation. What could go wrong?==

Who said “one small place?” How about a lecture hall designed for 200-300?

6 feet is 6 feet dude.

- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:37 am:
=== Who said “one small place?” How about a lecture hall designed for 200-300?

6 feet is 6 feet dude.===

… and yet, UNC - Chapel Hill

There are many a parent, right now, who are leaving students on campuses where parties and dangerous gatherings are happening well outside classroom or lecture hall concerns are being addressed.

It was Chapel Hill who led the way, first with “all the way through Thanksgiving” thinking, no breaks, get students home.

Now it’s Chapel Hill going fully remote, clearing out campus.

But ACC football?

To SIUE, you look at schools like UNC and you see how Region 4 sits… are you lucky things aren’t applying to higher ed?

- pool boy - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:53 am:
So in March or April, they send everybody home to finish classes on line and now with a higher positivity rate they get to have 50 people in class rooms. Money talks and BS walks.

- Consistency - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 11:59 am:
From the article:

The conduct code acts as a contract between students and the university, outlining their rights and responsibilities. Violating terms of the code can result in disciplinary action ranging from education up to expulsion.

Stettler noted that students are also subject to state mandates and local ordinances, including the city of Carbondale’s face mask ordinance. The ordinance requires people to wear face masks in any public spaces when it’s not possible to maintain a distance of 6 feet from others. Individuals could face fines up to $750 for violating the city ordinance.

Holding individuals responsible for their own actions. What a novel concept.

- Highland IL - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 12:31 pm:
My significant other is a primary teacher. Their kids are 2 feet to 3 feet apart.

- Mandymae - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 12:38 pm:
==Who said “one small place?” How about a lecture hall designed for 200-300?

6 feet is 6 feet dude.==
Not every college class is taught in a giant lecture hall. Quite a lot take place in classrooms the size of your average primary school class.

- Pundent - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 1:50 pm:
I went to one of our large state universities. With rare exception most classes were not held in lecture halls.

- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 2:17 pm:
=== 6 feet is 6 feet dude. ===

Another example of policy makers and the public failing to keep up with the science.

We know that COVID can be spread as an aerosol now, it does not need to be exhaled or sneezed on you, it just floats in the air. 6 feet of distancing no longer protects you, and masks are only about 50 percent effective.

One person in a lecture hall for an hour can infect 25 percent of the classroom.

- IllinoisCitizen - Tuesday, Aug 18, 20 @ 2:54 pm:
What your articles don’t tell you is the amount of work done to make campuses more Covid-ready. Those small classrooms that you are talking about are being closed because they can’t be used effectively for teaching. Classrooms that used to hold 50 are now holding 10. Spaces that were designed for hundreds are being made into classrooms for 35 people. So please — don’t assume it’s “business as usual.” It’s not.

- Joe Bidenopolous - Wednesday, Aug 19, 20 @ 11:26 am:
===I went to one of our large state universities. With rare exception most classes were not held in lecture halls.===

I actually went to two of them (grad and undergrad) and can confirm.

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