We are adults, and we need to start acting like it.
When we first heard about the virus in early 2020, we hoped geographical distance and ambiguous headlines would protect us. Yet, the virus is here, the danger is real and we must step up. Students at Marquette University need to be more responsible and mindful in their decisions to mitigate the spread of the disease and protect everyone’s safety and well-being.
The university should have been more preventative and proactive in its planning for students’ return to campus. But now it is too late, and it is up to students to adhere to health guidelines set forth by the university and city, state and federal health officials.
Before classes even started, students were seen partying at off-campus locations without masks and not practicing social distancing.
This behavior is irresponsible. Continuing to go to parties and disregard health guidelines not only puts people’s health at risk, but it also showcases a blatant lack of compassion for others.
At the beginning of the pandemic, there was confusion as to which age groups would be most impacted. Initially, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions were believed to be most at risk for contracting COVID-19.
However, evidence from the World Health Organization shows that young adults are not immune to contracting COVID-19 and are most likely spreading it to others.
With the high possibility of not showing symptoms, young adults must be more cautious to prevent the spread to others, especially vulnerable populations. The Marquette students deciding to ignore this and socialize in large groups are doing the exact opposite.
Additionally, while we may believe we are in a “Marquette bubble,” we come in contact with Milwaukee community members every day by walking on the street, going to the grocery store and volunteering.
Because young adults are the most likely to spread COVID-19, we need to be mindful and care about those we interact with in the community, whether directly or indirectly.
This is a moral issue. We need to start taking responsibility for our actions.
Moreover, our behavior cannot be excused because college students normally are expected to go out to parties. These actions are unfair to Marquette students following COVID-19 safety guidelines. They are doing what is necessary to protect themselves and others while their peers act as if nothing has changed since the pandemic. Students being safe should not have their in-person classes moved online or lose the possibility to safely hang out with their friends if Marquette experiences a spike in cases. They should not have to face the consequences of their classmates’ bad choices.
We all want to regain a sense of normalcy, inside and outside of the classroom. But we have to keep safety the top concern in all of our decisions.
Just because we are in month nine of the pandemic and have returned to campus does not mean the coronavirus is cured or that the pandemic is over.
Students need to start holding themselves accountable.
With the university not requiring students to get tested on campus, share proof of being tested off campus or report if they test positive for COVID-19, it is essential that students fill out their daily COVID Cheq screenings honestly. This is necessary to maintain contact with the university, as these factors can skew results on the Marquette COVID-19 Dashboard.
This is not just about us. We cannot only think of ourselves.
Now is the time to care for one another and strive to uphold the Marquette values of “cura personalis” and being the difference.
Without doing so, COVID-19 cases and deaths will continue to rise and life will never return to normal.
If you haven’t started taking COVID-19 seriously yet, now is the time; your delay is wasting time other people may not have.
Editorial topics by the Marquette Wire are decided at weekly meetings between members of the executive board. The editorial is crafted with leadership by the executive opinions editor. The executive board consists of the executive director of the Wire, managing editor of the Marquette Tribune, managing editor of the Marquette Journal, general manager of MUTV, general manager of MUR and nine additional top editors across the organization.
