PLEASE think twice (or 3x) before sending your Blue Hen to
Newark in the Fall. I see many parents on this board, especially those of
incoming freshman now scrambling to find off-campus housing for their incoming students
based upon yesterday’s email. Kudos to
Michaela Mayer Conrad for raising issues in Newark around the enforcement of
ongoing large gatherings and potential fines and disciplinary actions that may result
from large off campus gatherings, which I am sure will continue to happen among
those college aged students. This is
certainly a risk our students will face if they return to Newark as it will be
hard for many students to ignore the siren song of partying and gathering with
friends, but that runs directly against the reason the school decided to move
to a mostly online model.
Unfortunately, Covid-19 has not been contained nationally
and specifically in Delaware, as it has bounced off and on the Tri State (NY,
CT, NJ) banned travel list over the past few weeks. By sending your Blue Hen back to Newark in
the fall, you are increasing the chances that they will be exposed, and that
they will spread it to their housemates, bring it home to you, and potentially
our parents who are certainly more susceptible.
Yes, I know they are young, and less likely to get sick,
Yes, I know they want to be independent and want to be on
campus with their friends
Yes, I know they would prefer to be anywhere but home.
Yes, I also know they are less likely to wear a mask and
less likely to properly social distancing.
Yes, I know they have already lost many experiences, especially
the rising freshman class
Yes, I know our students are now adults, want their independence
and should have some say in what they do in the coming months.
However, we the parents, need to be the adults here, we need
to make the hard decisions and not allow our students to dictate what they want
to do, even though they are now adults.
Honestly, I would prefer my Blue Hen to be in Newark and not here. We
need look out for the safety of not just our students, but the wider UD community
and perhaps the entire nation. That means
making the hard decisions, and very possibly disappointing our students, which
I am sure none of us want to do.
Honestly, I was devastated yesterday when I received the
email. I am heartbroken for my Blue Hen,
because my college experience (not at UD) was maybe one of the best 4 years of
my life. I am disappointed that he is
missing those academic, social and overall growth experiences that are literally
not able to be replicated any other time in their lives. So I get the frustration and understand why
you would want to send your Blue Hen back to Newark, but again I would kindly
request that you consider the reason the school made this decision and how your
decision will have an bigger impact on just your student.
I am sure this is going to get me grief and a fair amount of
push back from parents who disagree.
After all we are all entitled to our opinion but that is mine. I just had to share my thoughts here.
Take it of leave it. Have a nice day, please stay safe and sanitize.
