COVID-19 Weekly Briefing Aug. 30

At least eighteen students have tested positive for the coronavirus and a professor canceled a social gathering he planned to host Sept. 3 after receiving concerns from students. SAM ANDRUS Photo Editor

First case of COVID-19 confirmed in student living on campus

The first case of COVID-19 amongst students in Chapman housing was reported between the dates of Aug. 24 and Sept. 4, according to the CU Safely Back website. In addition, 17 students living in off-campus communities were also confirmed to test positive for the coronavirus. 

The students’ identity or exact whereabouts is unconfirmed, as is the exact date and time their test results came back positive. However, as explained by Director of Residence Life and First Year Experience Dave Sundby, although students living in on-campus housing were required to take a COVID-19 test before they moved in, Chapman was unable to ensure negative results for each student prior to their arrival.

“Any student who didn’t have test results back when they moved in, they were given quarantine guidelines and told they were needed to quarantine,” Sundby told The Panther. “So we sort of treated them as if they were possibly exposed until we had results.”

Chapman professor cancels social gathering planned for students 

Kailie Michalak, a Chapman senior, received a Sept. 3 email from her spring semester financial economics professor Mark Skousen inviting her and her former classmates to a voluntary “social gathering” for “some volleyball, swimming, home cooking and discussions.” Michalak emailed President Daniele Struppa and Dean of Students Jerry Price her concerns about the event’s safety. She told them the professor wanted to host a celebration at the end of their course, but due to remote instruction, he postponed the event to Sept. 6. 

“I personally deem this as extremely inappropriate and completely contradicts the guidelines outlined by the University,” Michalak wrote to Struppa and Price. “I genuinely hope something can be done about this, it is not okay that a professor is planning to host a gathering such as this in the middle of a pandemic.”

The Panther reached out to Struppa after Michalak uploaded his response to her social media account. In the email, Struppa told Michalak he is in no “position to tell anybody (even our professors) what they can or cannot do at their home.”

Struppa told The Panther Sept. 3 that Skousen was made aware of the concerns and volunteered to cancel the social gathering.

The Panther will continue to provide updates on the number of students testing positive, as well as any new information on the coronavirus’ impact on the fall semester.