Students reflect on COVID-19 case increase as classes began
Students see noticeable difference between Pullman this summer, now; expect case numbers to rise
Pullman felt empty this summer, but now students have returned, and the possibility of contracting COVID-19 is higher than it was this summer, said WSU student Caitlin Madden.
September 3, 2020
WSU senior Eleanor Kelley felt relatively safe in Pullman during the summer, but as students returned and a surge of COVID-19 cases were recorded, Kelley’s notion of safety was challenged.
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Kelley, a psychology pre-med major, said she thinks many students are neglecting social distancing rules.
Over the summer, the case numbers stayed low. Kelley said when students started coming back to Pullman in August, the community became less safe when infections rose.
“Now, there are a lot more young people here,” she said. “The atmosphere has kind of changed.”
Kelley said she considered the rise in cases “a little bit disturbing.”
She has seen people heading to social gatherings on Greek Row. She said she has passed by The Coug and noticed its outdoor seating packed with people.
“The nightlife has come back in a way that I didn’t really expect,” Kelley said.
At first, she expected students to more strictly follow social distancing guidelines, but she said she now realizes college students tend to not follow rules. She is not sure why she originally believed otherwise.
Pullman felt empty and quiet this summer, and the possibility of being infected with the virus seemed low, said Caitlin Madden, senior landscape, nursery and greenhouse management major.
Madden said she feels many students are trying to follow social distancing guidelines while others are failing and gathering in large groups.
“I’m furious,” Madden said. “I’m just so mad about it.”
With students not following safety guidelines, Jared Thompson, senior construction management major, said he expects more students to contract COVID-19.
“At this point, it is pretty clear that it’s going to get worse. I hope it levels it out,” Kelley said. “There’s going to be an increase in cases no matter what we do.”
Elizabeth Siler • Sep 5, 2020 at 3:31 pm
Well you found three students who are following the rules, but my nightly drive through the WSU campus shows that on average, no more than 3% of the persons who are out and about walking are wearing any form of face coverings. Whole gaggles of students, most just inches apart, are everywhere. The bars near campus seem to be full of people sitting fairly close together who are not wearing masks. The parties — and the evidence thereof — are everywhere.
Would like to make this point: even if you don’t care if you infect someone else, please consider your own health. While nobody is denying young people generally get off easier when they encounter this disease, the evidence is also clear that Covid infection can be very debilitating to young people, even healthy ones. Football players seem healthy — they eat well, exercise a lot, and are generally quite fit. Yet consider this: at Penn State, 1/3 of Covid positive athletes were found to have inflamed heart muscles. What 21 year old wants that?
These rules are in place to protect everyone — not just those over 50. If you’re under 50, you may have less chance of dying from Covid, but the rest of your life may be impaired and debilitated. Just how hard is it to put on a mask?