Students are returning to their newly re-opened college campuses across the nation this week (though many others have gone online-only for Fall), and already the parties are in full swing, despite administrators warning against violating new strict social distancing guidelines.
As we earlier detailed, “no parties, no trips” COVID-19 rules are in effect for a number of universities in order to ensure in-person classes can resume, but also as predicted — there’s simply no way this can ultimately be enforced, as The Hill now reports:
Local officials have condemned viral videos of returning students attending parties without masks or physical distancing on university campuses around the country.
The videos were taking at such colleges as Oklahoma State and the University of North Georgia.
First night back at University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/VAmZ2TLvuz
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) August 16, 2020
Welcome back to school America: college towns are getting flooded with… restless and ready to let loose college students, as one might fully expect.
As videos showing massive parties and packed-out bars go viral, they’re coming under condemnation from mayors and town councils and county health officials amid fears that ‘back to school’ will only exponentially grow and further the pandemic.
Here’s the mayor of Tuscaloosa, Alabama voicing his frustration:
Why? We are desperately trying to protect @tuscaloosacity – We are trying to have college football season. We have been running details for 3 straight nights. @TuscaloosaPD is stretched thin between COVID-19 and these details. We will be requesting daytime help from #UAPD. https://t.co/ZHCR2XAk8F
— Walt Maddox (@WaltMaddox) August 16, 2020
Also perhaps to be expected among carefree young revelers, there’s not a mask in sight in the series of videos making the rounds.
And here’s another viral video showing that though university campuses can roll out with all the stringent social distancing protocol they want, there’s nothing they can do in terms of what takes place far off campus:
Live from Stillwater, Oklahoma tonight ladies and gentleman.
This is how #OkState students are complying to off campus social distancing guidelines. pic.twitter.com/zKQu1PyMP1
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) August 16, 2020
This is reportedly putting more pressure on city and country police departments to enforce civic measures in place, such as mask codes and limitations on gatherings.
Last week the Associated Press detailed the dilemma facing colleges as follows:
“As they struggle to salvage some semblance of a campus experience this fall, U.S. colleges are requiring promises from students to help contain the coronavirus — no keg parties, no long road trips and no outside guests on campus.”
The report added: “No kidding. Administrators warn that failure to wear masks, practice social distancing and avoid mass gatherings could bring serious consequences, including getting booted from school.”
Perhaps administrators are even now preparing to pour over social media videos seeking to identify the defiant no-party rule breakers. But judging by the large numbers, with off-campus parties attracting students in the hundreds or even thousands, schools are clearly facing an uphill battle on the rules-enforcement front.
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