An announcement about limiting gatherings to take care of our community

Interim President Marcia J. White sent the following message to students today, November 11:

Dear Students,

Today, Albany County announced its highest number of cases of positive COVID-19 cases since the onset of the pandemic. This is a serious moment that calls for action. We must be part of the communal effort at halting the increase of cases in our area, and in New York State. With the rising number of cases in New York State, Governor Cuomo announced new restrictions today including “indoor and outdoor gatherings at private residences will be limited to no more than 10 people”. This is now a statewide-regulation applicable to all of us whether we live on-campus or off-campus.

To comply with the Governor’s new regulation, even though we are an institution, and not a private residence, we are limiting in-person indoor and outdoor student gatherings to 10 or fewer people beginning this Friday, November 13, at 10 p.m. This does not apply to your in-person classes. In order for us to continue in-person classes as scheduled through Tuesday, November 24, I am asking you to please limit your movements to the extent possible. I know this is really hard, and you want to socialize with your friends. I want that full college experience for you as well, but I want your safety and well-being more. With the current rise of COVID-19 cases across New York and in our region, I am asking for the next 12 days, you remain on campus as much as possible for your protection, your fellow students, and our neighborhood and campus community.

You all have been awesome at socially distancing and wearing your masks! Your sense of personal responsibility is the reason we are still in session while other colleges and universities are not. Please continue to wear your masks at all times. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is! All of the research is demonstrating that masks prevent the spread of the virus and protect you. If you need a mask, extra masks are being placed on tables in the Main Lounge in the Events and Athletics Center, in the Lally School of Education Forum, in the lobbies of the Hearst Center for Communications and Massry Center for the Arts.

If you have any symptoms at all, please stay home and email Health Services at healthservices@strose.edu so they can discuss your individual situation, and evaluate whether you should be tested.

We said, “Show Love, Mask Up.” Now “Show Love, Limit Interaction” so that we can all stay safe. Thanks for all that you have done all semester long to take care of each other, and our community.

Sincerely,

Marcia