In this week’s update, The Good Five-Cent Cigar will discuss the University considering implementation of an on-campus curfew and an overview of the community-wide asymptomatic testing.
Student behavior may lead to on-campus curfew
Last Friday, Vice President of Student Affairs Kathy Collins said in a statement that the University is considering implementing a curfew due to social distancing violations. She noted that large groups of people are gathering on campus near residence areas on weekends, and she warned that this behavior could result in a campus-wide curfew beginning on Oct. 16. The curfew would be in effect from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and comes in response to increased resistance from some to follow campus safety guidelines.
In her statement, Collins also noted that the University is aware of “hundreds” of students who have violated the new visitation policy amid the pandemic, and reinforced the notion that students caught having outside guests or going to different residence halls outside of their own will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for student conduct violations.
Assistant Director of Media Relations Dave Lavalle told NBC 10 News (WJAR) that the conversation surrounding a curfew is not “off the table” and University leaders are “very serious” about keeping the number of positive cases down.
Mandatory COVID-19 testing continues
In a statement released on Wednesday, the University announced thousands of students have already reported for their university-mandated COVID-19 test. Faculty, students and staff may continue participating in surveillance testing also offered by the University so the administration can continue to assess spread of the coronavirus in the community.
Students still in need of receiving a mandatory COVID-19 test should report to the Memorial Union Atrium on Oct. 14 to 16, from 9 a.m to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or to the Ryan Center drive-through testing center on October 14 to 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Resources
Health Services can be reached at 401-873-2246. Students can call the Counseling Center at 401-874-2288. The Center’s normal business hours are Monday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Outside of operating hours, students will be connected to ProtoCall, which provides behavioral health services over the phone. The Psychological Consultation Center can be reached at 401-874-4264, and the Couple and Family Therapy Clinic can be reached at 401-874-5956. For more information and stories in the coming days, check our website and Twitter @rhodycigar.