March 16, 2020
Amid the commotion of packing and making travel plans, some seniors found time to complete Princeton traditions, including a departure through FitzRandolph Gate. “It’s definitely not the way I had expected I’d walk through FitzRandolph Gate,” Alaa Ghoneim ’20 told PAW. “It’s disappointing that we might not have the ceremony that I’ve dreamed of for the past four years. I’m kind of conflicted because I know we should be practicing social distancing, but it was kind of a nice last thing that we could do. I think we’re still hopeful that things will get better and that we’ll be able to come back for Commencement.” Former Undergraduate Student Government president Zarnab Virk ’20 added, “The whole thing was arranged very informally, but I’m glad the Class of 2020 got to have one last unifying experience.”
READ MORE President Eisgruber ’83’s March 17 message to the University community
Not all festivities were as tame as strolling through the gate, though, and in response to large gatherings and “disruptive behavior,” Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan wrote a message to students warning that “continued violations of University health and safety guidelines and University policy may result in disciplinary consequences.”
Some students who expected to stay on campus to complete lab work for their senior theses will be heading home. According to The Daily Princetonian, Senior Associate Dean of the College Claire M. Fowler explained in an email that only “a small number of seniors who have been identified by their departments as having a critical need to access campus resources” will be allowed to stay. Several science departments are adjusting their thesis requirements as a result.
The Prince editorial board suggested that, in the midst of uncertainty about online classes, the University should adjust its grading scale for the spring semester. “While we commend the University’s efforts to protect students and anticipate the myriad difficulties they will face, we remain concerned about Princeton’s transition to the virtual classroom,” the board wrote. “While acknowledging it is an imperfect solution, this Board holds that the University should move all classes to a P/D/F-only grading scale.”
Over the weekend, two more cases of Princeton staff members with coronavirus were confirmed, bringing the total to three. The University announced new guidance for staff members, encouraging work-from-home arrangements for those whose duties do not require them to be physically present to do their jobs and safe-distancing precautions for those who still need to be on campus. Princeton was “working with union officials and management to ensure that duties can continue to be performed in a manner that maximizes both safety and flexibility,” Vice President for Human Resources Lianne Sullivan-Crowley wrote in an email to all staff. Sullivan-Crowley also announced designated COVID-19 days off for employees facing hardship situations related to the coronavirus.
Alumnus Noah Savage ’08, a broadcaster for Princeton basketball games and standup comedian, announced on Twitter that he’d tested positive for COVID-19. Savage discussed the situation in an episode of his podcast, telling listeners that his condition is improving. He was able to be tested in part because he has asthma, and he urged people to take the virus seriously and stay home as much as possible.
March 13, 2020
Friday afternoon, the University shared news from the New Jersey Health Department that one of the two Princeton staff members under self-isolation had tested positive for COVID-19. “The staff member remains in self-isolation, and we are working to ensure they have the support and access to care that they need,” the University announcement said. Test results for the second staff member were still pending. A Princeton student with flu-like symptoms remains in isolation at McCosh Health Center pending results of a test for COVID-19. People who had been in close contact with the two staff members now in self-isolation have been contacted and are in self-quarantine as a precaution, the University said.
READ MORE The University’s website for sharing the latest information related to COVID-19
Princeton students studying abroad in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland received emails urging them to return to their permanent residence. The update was in response to a 30-day government ban on travel between the U.S. and Europe beginning March 13. Some students requested to stay, according to The Daily Princetonian, and received a follow-up email from study-abroad adviser Johanna Wagner telling students they must sign a form releasing the University from various responsibilities.
The Department of Public Safety announced changes to building access to reduce the number of visitors to campus. Starting March 14, faculty, staff, and students will need a University ID to enter most buildings, including dormitories, academic buildings, and offices.
Other closures in and around Princeton were announced by McCarter Theatre, which is suspending live performances and other events through at least March 31; the Princeton Garden Theatre, which is closed through March 26; and the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, which is sending employees home to work effective until at least March 29.
Original story, March 12, 2020
The University’s initial decision to move spring-semester courses online due to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus envisioned an early April reevaluation of how long virtual instruction would continue. On March 11, Princeton updated its plans, announcing that all undergraduates were to leave by March 19 and remain off campus for the remainder of the semester, except for those with certain academic, financial, travel, housing, or immigration and visa situations that made it necessary to stay.
“We know you’re heartbroken at the prospect of leaving your friends, professors, and other campus colleagues,” Dean of the College Jill Dolan and Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun wrote in a letter to students. “And we know this is not how you expected to study and participate in campus life at Princeton. … But our number one goal during this crisis is to ensure the health and safety of our students and community.”
Students who meet one or more of the following conditions will be permitted to stay, according the letter from Dolan and Calhoun:
- A senior who must conduct lab or other Princeton-based research on campus that’s required for your senior thesis;
- A student who faces housing insecurity (homelessness or a precarious living situation);
- A student who faces financial insecurity;
- A student previously certified “independent for the purposes of financial aid”;
- An athlete still in competition and required to be on campus;
- Currently residing in “family housing.”
International students who have immigration, travel, or visa restrictions, or whose home country is one to which travel from the United States is restricted, are also able to stay on campus, according to the letter. (Read more about Princeton’s international students below.)On March 12, the University announced that one student who was exhibiting flu-like symptoms had been placed in isolation at McCosh Health Center, pending the results of a test for COVID-19. Two Princeton staff members in self-quarantine are still awaiting test results. They attended an off-campus event in late February where, according to Planet Princeton, five guests have since tested positive for COVID-19 — two from the Boston area and three Pennsylvania residents.
In other coronavirus-related developments, the University’s eating clubs will shut down March 13 and remain closed until at least April 5, according to The Daily Princetonian. The Prince suspended print production March 11 but plans to continue reporting on coronavirus and other campus news online.
Princeton Journeys trips to Tanzania and Australia, both of which departed in March, went on as planned but without faculty or staff, in accordance with Princeton’s travel advisory, according to Bridget St. Clair, executive manager of the alumni travel program. “Our third-party tour operators proceeded with the educational travel programs as planned, and travelers were able to make individual decisions whether or not to continue their participation in the trip,” St. Clair said. “The University’s planning horizon is currently through April 5, and discussions are ongoing about Princeton Journeys beyond that date.” She added that tour operators, ground suppliers, and co-sponsoring institutions were working on options for all upcoming trips on the Journeys roster.
International Students Respond to Coronavirus Policies
Since University officials announced that most students will have to vacate campus by March 19, international students — many of whom are eligible to remain, according to the University’s criteria — have had to grapple with what to do next.
“It’s been really chaotic,” said Jack Allen ’21, from Manchester, England. He plans on flying home Sunday, having booked his ticket when the announcement was made. “I’m obviously really saddened that we have to finish the spring semester like this.”
Allen’s decision to return home comes at the advice of the Davis International Center, which wrote in an email to international students on the evening of March 11 that “in most cases, the safest option is to return home.”
Exceptions include students for whom going home means returning to a CDC-designated Level 2 or 3 country or a USDOS Level 4 or Level 3 country; who are nationals of a country subject to a travel ban and would need to apply for a new visa to return to the United States; whose visas have expired or are at high risk for a visa denial, or who do not have a “good environment at home for learning.”
“It’s hard to think about the situation and go on with your normal commitments,” said Riccardo Lapi ’21 from Tuscany, Italy. Some professors have canceled classes and postponed midterm deadlines to give students a chance to figure out next steps. Given that Italy has been categorized as a Risk Level 3 country by the CDC, Lapi will be staying on campus for the remainder of the semester.
As a general rule, international students in the United States must receive in-person instruction for their academic visas to be valid. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recently allowed schools to “temporarily adopt other learning methods to better comply with government health requirements,” according to Albert Rivera, the director of the Davis International Center.
As for seniors who are concerned about their Optional Practical Training (OPT) applications to live and work in the U.S. post-graduation, Rivera wrote, “there is no indication that travel alone will place your application in jeopardy.”
Since students must be physically present in the United States to apply for OPT, many are worried that leaving the country before the visa is received may lead to complications for their future plans.
“If I’m not in the States to pick up my [new] visa and try to re-enter the country with an outdated visa, I’ll have trouble getting back in,” explained Sally Hahn ’20, from Seoul, South Korea. “Because of that, I don’t want to leave the country in the next few weeks.” By Jimin Kang ’21
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8 Responses
Becky Hiers ’85
4 Years AgoA poem inspired by the pandemic:
FACING CHANGE
An invisible virus, circling the globe,
Has spawned a dense cloud of fear,
Both for our safety, and for the health
Of those we hold so dear.
The sidewalks and buildings, empty and lonely,
Echo in an eerie way.
Our familiar routines and social lives
All feel like they’re slipping away.
Shall we mourn the loss of the life we have known,
Weighed down by our dismay?
Or can we embrace, with hopeful hearts,
This adventure we face today?
McCarter Theatre Center
4 Years AgoWe would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of support McCarter received since announcing the cancelation of the balance of our season. This was a difficult decision to make, however we recognized early on that in order to do our part to flatten the curve we needed to darken our stages and keep our audience members safe.
The motto “The show must go on!” is core to our mission and our character. It is very challenging to break out of that mindset, but sometimes the show cannot go on. Theatres and performing arts organizations around the world were forced to close in response to the current situation and McCarter was no exception.
What is truly exceptional is the response from our audience. Our patrons have rallied around McCarter with kind words, ticket donations, and other support. We want to let you know just how much everyone at McCarter appreciates this outpouring of support. When we asked our patrons to consider donating their tickets to support our general operations, the response was overwhelming.
To date, we have contacted just a small fraction of the 6,000 ticket buyers impacted by our closure, and many ticket holders we have spoken to have donated their tickets back to the theatre. We are personally reaching out to all ticket holders so if you haven’t heard from us yet, please understand the delay. We are truly grateful for these donations - each one positively impacts our current financial situation.
This is a wonderful first step to help us through this unprecedented time. Like other arts organizations, we will be turning to our community of supporters and subscribers to ask for assistance to get us through the next few months as we rebuild in the wake of this crisis.
And like many of you, we feel the pressing and immediate need to support the health and human services providing relief for this community. McCarter staff are helping in myriad of ways. We are sewing masks for health care workers and service people. We will soon be offering online content to help parents and arts lovers manage the stay-at-home order. And we will be here, ready to entertain and enlighten our community when the time is right.
Thank you again,
Robert J. Caruso, Board President
Michael S. Rosenberg, Managing Director
Emily Mann, Artistic Director/Resident Playwright
William W. Lockwood, Jr., Director of Special Programming
Kim Masters ’68
4 Years AgoThe closure of spring campus offers an opportunity to alter our four-year residential college to a two-year residential and two-year online experience. It would double the number of students, and also bring residential learning in sync with 21st century patterns of distance education, work, and socialization. It would provide a leadership opportunity in the merging of these concepts for present and future generations. It would reduce financial burdens and expenses. In this suggestion, there are several options. Each class could start as two years online, followed by two years residential, or two years residential followed by two years online, or a model alternating between the two. It would be the sociological equivalent of reconstructing the meaning and function of what a Princeton education contributes to being of service to all nations, especially our own.
Daniel Yang M.D. ’81
4 Years AgoI am a radiologist thinking about how to protect our patients, and our families from the serious consequences of COVID-19. I see the fear and panic in society, and the reaction to this disease does not make sense to me.
My contention is that we should be protecting those people most susceptible to the serious morbidities/mortality from this illness: those who are elderly or immune compromised; those in nursing homes; those carrying Medicare cards; those with known cancer or other immune suppressing illnesses. Every interaction with this population should be with caution, with protective barriers. They should avoid going to crowded venues, avoid soccer games, concert halls, and crowded planes and trains during this flu season.
The other healthy, younger part of the population should go about their daily lives normally, without masks; but with common sense hygiene and proper health etiquette. They should not be quarantined, isolated, or kept from living. Schools should not be closed; only the susceptible should be kept out of school. Work places should not close; only the susceptible should work from home. Travel should be encouraged for the young. The young and healthy will not die from COVID-19. Instead they will develop immunity by contracting this virus. And when enough young people get over this virus, there will be population protection, and when they grow old, they will not die from COVID-19. Instead, with the young people inoculated, COVID-19 will become like one of the 115 common cold viruses that we live with yearly, many of which are coronaviruses. I hope I will be become immune to this virus before I grow old. What doesn’t kill me will make me stronger. Nobody under 30 years old has died in Korea; no one under 50 has died in Japan.
Exposure to someone with COVID-19 should not lead to immediate isolation and self-quarantine. If we applied this policy to every aspect of our society, we will not have a functioning society; all of our hospitals and clinics will be closed because all of us in healthcare will be exposed to someone with coronavirus. Plus containment of a highly contagious disease just doesn’t work. (If you’ve ever played the simulation game Plague, you will know that containment never works.) Only improved immunity works, either by vaccines, or by total population innoculations, like chickenpox parties held in our parents’ generations. Innoculate all the kids, get everyone immune to it and you are done for a generation. (Grandparents were never invited to chickenpox parties.)
Please tell me if you disagree with my assessment, and why.
Jordan Kaplan
4 Years AgoI think you are missing the point.
You would be right if we had a healthcare system that was ready to handle and treat a potential lot of COVID-19 patients; if we could isolate every vulnerable person 100% until the pandemic has crested; if we weren’t seeing cases of younger folks getting completely ravaged by this disease. Chickenpox are a tolerable discomfort; violent, viral pneumonia would be unethical to knowingly expose someone to, even with a 75% chance of being symptom-free.
You are suggesting a simple plan for a very complicated disease. You’re right that isolation probably won’t work on its own, but we need to buy time to develop a treatment or a vaccine or something that will give us some control of the situation. Our approach right now is extreme, but the alternative is ugly and unethical.
Richard Trenner ’70
4 Years AgoOn Thursday evening, March 12, an old friend of my family from summers in Maine (“old,” though in fact, young — a Princeton freshman) asked my wife and me to store much of his college gear — books, racquets, golf clubs, clothes, artwork, and more books — until September because his first year of college was suddenly and shockingly over.
On the drive from campus to our house and back, my friend and I spoke about various things — rowing (his latest athletic love); his summer plans (doing an internship, helping out on the family farm in Virginia, spending time on the Maine coast); teen foolishness on Nautilus Island (no comment, but he was not involved); The Decameron (on which he’d just written a paper); his family (adventurous, intellectual, close-knit); and, of course, COVID-19 (the rogue elephant in the room).
On the last topic, my friend said that nearly all the news he’d heard in the preceding week was very bad. But he also said that he’d heard from his coach and a couple of his professors that the University seemed to be handling the medical, pedagogical, financial, and logistical challenges very well indeed. He’d also heard that President Eisgruber ’83 had risen to these unprecedented challenges. “Chris Eisgruber,” the freshman said, “agonized over the hard choices” that he and his leadership team had to make in a time of intense flux and fear, both locally and globally.
Rising to the challenges, when so many things are going so quickly and dangerously wrong, makes for some good news from a week mauled by a lot of bad news.
Larry Campbell ’70
4 Years AgoFifty years ago the Class of ’70 “bugged the system” enough to close down classes and business as usual in protest to the secret bombing of Cambodia by the U.S. We added legs to our heraldic shield icon to proudly commemorate our conscientious activism. And we ’70 bugs helped open up the FitzRandolph Gates to signify an open connection with the larger community. I skipped graduation as “business as usual,” thought it had been canceled, and headed to the Colorado wilderness. It wasn’t until I later heard “The Day of the Locusts” by my protest idol Bob Dylan that I realized he had attended the graduation that I boycotted.
It is quite ironic that now classes, and our 50th class reunion, are closed down due to “bugs” shaped like a crown.
Richard M. Waugaman ’70
4 Years AgoThank you. As always, Princeton sets a fine example.
The current crisis has reminded me of what my parents and their generation endured for the years of World War II. There was large-scale military and civilian mobilization. Everyone made sacrifices for the common goal of saving our country. Our courageous, patriotic military risked their lives (my father served throughout the war in the Merchant Marines, which had the largest rate of fatalities of any military branch). Those at home faced severe privations, as food and other necessities were rationed. Young children didn’t see their fathers for years. Women went to work building munitions. And yes, some women went to war, and are finally receiving their long overdue recognition.
We have degenerated into a time of dangerous political polarization. Now is an opportunity to recover from that “illness,” as we come together to fight the current pandemic. Let’s use our past national accomplishments to inspire us.