Letter to the Editor: Campus reopening plan puts health at risk

This letter was originally published online by the writers on August 19, 2020. On August 24, University Housing announced that they will only offer single dorm rooms. The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang News.

Dear Cal Poly students, parents, and supporters, 

We are writing to alert you to the significant health and safety risks posed by Cal Poly’s current campus reopening plan. We appeal to you to consider these factors as you make your decision whether to return in person for fall quarter. Scientific evidence and the recent experiences of other schools and college campuses strongly suggest that bringing back thousands of students, the vast majority of whom will be learning entirely online, will significantly and unnecessarily jeopardize the health of both the Cal Poly campus and the wider San Luis Obispo community.  

Cal Poly’s reopening plan includes two major risk factors: inadequately “de-densified” student residence halls and insufficient coronavirus testing capacity. Although only 13% of Cal Poly classes will be held in person this fall, and most of these are upper division specialized labs or student research projects, the university’s current plan calls for reopening dorms at 70% of typical capacity (roughly 6,000 out of  8,500 spaces filled). Because of this relatively high density, Cal Poly cannot guarantee single room occupancy, as recommended by state guidelines. Additionally, even at single room occupancy, transmission can occur in shared bathrooms and due to inadequate ventilation. Cal Poly also will not be able to provide routine universal Covid-19 testing. Instead, the university will offer initial Covid-19 tests only to students who are symptomatic and their close contacts, relying on students themselves to self-monitor and self-diagnose.

Such narrow testing is not sufficient for congregate living facilities like dormitories. When there have been outbreaks at other congregate facilities such as jails or skilled nursing facilities, a key to stopping the spread has been the testing of all residents, regardless of symptoms. Experts recommend universities test every student, staff, and faculty person every few days to control and manage the pandemic. Without regular testing, asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread can lead to outbreaks that go undetected until it is too late. If our university and county do not have the capacity to provide regular and repeated testing (and there is no indication that they can or will), then we cannot safely house students at 70% capacity. Since Cal Poly is also encouraging thousands of students who live off campus to return to SLO as well, testing will be even more limited.

Two weeks ago, the University of North Carolina reopened its campus on terms very similar to those proposed by Cal Poly. Dormitories were partially de-densified and testing was guaranteed only to symptomatic students. Within days, the university saw a major spike in coronavirus cases, with multiple outbreak clusters connected to student housing. The university was forced to revert immediately to fully online teaching and to mandate that students leave campus as quickly as possible. This is not only disruptive, but also increases the probability of spreading the virus back to students’ communities as they return home. Just days later, a similarly dangerous outbreak forced Notre Dame to halt all in-person classes, even with more comprehensive testing protocols in place. 

From an ethical perspective, we believe that on-campus housing should be reserved only for those students with a compelling need, whether related to finances, health, safety, or study abroad requirements. It is essential to limit the number of students on campus during this pre-vaccine (and pre-effective treatment) phase of the pandemic, especially in the absence of rapid turn-around surveillance testing to catch outbreaks early. 

The time available for housing decisions is short, and we are urging the Cal Poly administration to extend all relevant deadlines. But the hard truth is this: the only safe and effective way to reduce risk right now is for students to choose not to return to campus. As painful as it may be, we are asking you to opt out. 

We know that living and studying remotely is not ideal for most of you. Many of you indicated in the early part of the summer that you would come to SLO regardless of the housing or virtual class situation. Many of us shared your optimism, but we now have a clearer indication of the risks involved. We also now know that your experience on campus this fall will bear little resemblance to campus life before the pandemic. Most common spaces will be closed, there will be no dining together (campus meals are grab and go), socializing will be discouraged and likely monitored, and most classes will be virtual. In addition, the constant risk of Covid-19 exposure may repeatedly force students into quarantine and isolation. If and when outbreaks occur, there is a strong chance of spread to custodial or housing staff, to their families, and to the larger community. Additionally, we now know that even some otherwise healthy young people can be susceptible to negative health consequences of the virus. The stress and anxiety from these conditions could affect your ability to focus on your classes. 

Students, we miss you! We wish we could safely work with you in a classroom and will be so excited to return when it is safe to do so. You deserve a safe, clear path forward. Until Cal Poly can provide that path to you, however, all we can do is ask you to help us keep our campus safe, to protect our staff and their families, and to collaborate with us to make our virtual classes engaging, challenging, and rewarding. We urge all of you who are able, whether you were planning to live on or off campus this Fall, to stay in your home communities, so we can control the spread of this potentially deadly disease. We have reason to be optimistic and patient. Rapid testing has been approved by the FDA and better treatments will be arriving in the coming months. While we understand that it is hard to wait several months to start or continue your college education in person, we will be here when you return to ensure that the time you do spend here will be some of the best years of your life.

Signed,

This letter was composed by a team of concerned faculty. We welcome anyone who wishes to support the message of this letter to sign by clicking this link. We acknowledge that different roles on campus provide different levels of protection, so if you wish to sign and remain anonymous, that is an option.

Signatories will be updated below periodically.

	Name (or anonymous) and department (as applicable)	Role on campus
1	Candace Winstead, Biological Science	Faculty
2	Lewis Call – Professor of History	Faculty
3	Charles Knight Biological Sciences	Faculty
4	Anonymous/ CAFES	Staff
5	Anonymous	Staff
6	Anonymous and Scared Housing Employee	Staff
7	Sandi Clement, Biological Sciences	Faculty
8	Bree Hugins, FSN	Staff
9	Anonymous	Staff
10	Scared Mom and Housing Employee	Staff
11	Neal MacDougall, Agribusiness Department and the California Faculty Association (CFA)	Faculty
12	Anonymous	Staff
13	Erica Fryer	Staff
14	Morgan White — English	Faculty
15	Anon/ COSAM	Faculty
16	Pamela Dougherty, CTLT	Staff
17	Stan Yoshinobu, Mathematics	Faculty
18	Alice Hamrick, Biological Sciences	Staff
19	Elizabeth- Student Affairs	Staff
20	anonymous	Staff
21	Arianna Bush	Other

22	Dr. Laird, Lecturer in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry	Faculty
23	Nisa Morey – Chemistry & Biochemistry	Faculty
24	Anonymous, Department of Kinesiology & Public Health	Faculty
25	Terrified Housing Employee	Staff
26	Ryan Anthony Hatch, English	Faculty
27	Anonymous	Staff
28	Sarah Bridger, History Department	Faculty
29	Caleb Nichols – Library	Staff
30	Stephanie Allen	Staff
31	Christopher Boreham, Alumni	Other
32	Lily Holzner, Career Services	Staff
33	Danielle Robbins, PsyD	Faculty
34	Anonymous from University Housing	Staff
35	Gita Kolluru, Biological Sciences	Faculty
36	Philip Costanzo, Chemistry and Biochemistry	Faculty
37	Kaila Bussert, Library	Faculty
38	Anonymous/CAFES	Faculty
39	anonymous, engineering	Faculty
40	Debora Schwartz, English	Faculty
41	Anonymous!	Staff
42	Brenda Helmbrecht, English	Faculty
43	Jean Davidson, Biological Sciences	Faculty
44	Anonymous — CENG	Faculty
45	Anonymous, School of Education	Faculty
46	Conny Liegl, Kennedy Library	Staff
47	Anonymous	Faculty

48	Anonymous/SOE	Faculty
49	Anonymous	Staff
50	Art MacCarley, EE Dept.	Faculty
51	J. Bartel, English	Faculty
52	Marc Horney, Animal Science	Faculty
53	Anonymous (IME, CENG)	Other
54	Ronald C. Den Otter	Faculty
55	Alexander Silva, Biomedical Engineering	Student
56	Fred DePiero – Electrical Engineering	Faculty
57	Catherine Waitinas, English Professor	Faculty
58	Martine Lappé, Social Sciences Department	Faculty
59	James Mealy, Electrical Engineering	Faculty
60	Kyleigh Borje, Biological Sciences	Student
61	James Eason, Biomedical Engineering	Faculty
62	second year student	Student
63	Ingrid Reyes (CAFES)	Student
64	Nishanta Rajakaruna	Faculty
65	Nathan Heston	Faculty
66	We miss you | Physics	Faculty
67	Eli Leclair	Student
68	Gaby Hutchinson, COSAM	Student
69	anonymous	Staff
70	Nancy Rucci (World Languages and Culture)	Faculty
71	Anonymous – Facilities	Staff
72	Anonymous | CAED	Faculty
73	Chris Den Hartog, Political Science	Faculty
74	Xenia Chiarabini – 2020 Alumna	Other
75	Luanne Fose, CTLT	Staff
76	Lienmir Arradaza (CLA student)	Student
77	Anonymous, Applicable	Staff
78	Anonymous, Student Affairs	Staff
79	Jennifer Ashley	Faculty
80	Ashley McDonald, Chemistry & Biochemistry	Faculty
81	Anonymous Manager in University Housing	Staff
82	Anonymous	Faculty
83	Anonymous – Electrical Engineering	Faculty
84	Anonymous	Faculty

85	Anonymous Manager in University Housing	Staff
86	Dan See, Civil Engineering	Faculty
87	Jennifer Klay, Physics	Faculty
88	Alan L. Kiste, Chemistry & Biochemistry	Faculty
89	Anonymous	Faculty
90	Anonymous, Physics	Staff
91	Alejandra Yep, Biological Sciences	Faculty
92	Gary Clay	Faculty
93	Robert Campbell, MD	Other
94	Anonymous Resident Advisor	Student
95	Dale Kohler, Information Technology Services	Staff
96	Anonymous/CAFES	Faculty
97	Anonymous/CAFES	Faculty
98	Concerned parent of a freshman	Staff
99	Pete Schwartz	Faculty

100	Jason Linn, History	Faculty
101	Anonymous	Student
102	Eric J. Kantorowski, Chemistry & Biochemistry	Faculty
103	Anonymous Resident Advisor	Student
104	Eric LeRoy – Community Healthcare provider	Other
105	Matt Beekman, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics	Faculty
106	Emily Hamilton, Mathematics	Faculty
107	John Saghri, Electrical Engineering	Faculty
108	Ally Pasulka, Biological Sciences	Faculty
109	Anonymous, University Housing	Staff
110	anonymous	Staff
111	Anonymous – Journalism	Faculty
112	Michael Jones, Lecturer, Biological Sciences	Faculty
113	John Sharpe, Physics	Faculty
114	Robert inchausti Emeritus, Dept of English	Faculty
115	Anonymous, Kennedy Library	Faculty
116	Eric Paton, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Aerospace Engineering	Faculty
117	Jason Blank, Biological Sciences	Faculty
118	John Saghri, Electrical Engineering	Faculty
119	Emily Taylor, Biological Sciences	Faculty
120	Jeong-Ah Lee, Physics	Faculty

121	Christy Strand-Biological Sciences	Faculty
122	Anonymous, with family members at high risk for COVID-19	Student
123	Anonymous	Other
124	anonymous	Faculty
125	Eli Balderas	Student
126	Armitage	Other
127	Laura Cooper	Other
128	Lois Petty	Other
129	Anonymous, Liberal Studies	Faculty
130	Lizabeth Schlemer, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering	Faculty
131	anonymous – retired faculty	Other
132	Anonymous- campus health and wellbeing	Staff
133	Melinda Keller, Mechanical Engineering	Faculty
134	CENG, Class of 2021	Student
135	Anonymous, Campus Health & Wellbeing	Staff

136	Sean Echols – Physics	Faculty
137	Vickie Bryant, RN	Other
138	Brandon chestnut	Other
139	Anonymous	Faculty
140	Steven Ruszczycky, English; Women’s, Gender, & Queer Studies	Faculty
141	Christopher Culbreath, Physics	Faculty
142	Sandra Ward, Chemistry & Biochemistry	Faculty

143	Anonymous – Mechanical Engineering	Faculty
144	Alexander Ameri, CAED ASI Board of Directors, Architectural Engineering	Student
145	Anonymous	Parent
146	Anonymous/CAFES	Faculty

147	Sarah Milad, EESS	Student
148	Jonathan Fernsler, Physics	Faculty
149	Mallory St. George	Other
150	Riley Chestnut	Other
151	Anonymous – Academic Advising	Staff
152	Raymond bowden daughter at campus clinic	Parent
153	Lauren Kolodziejski, Communication Studies	Faculty
154	Colleen Marlow, Physics	Faculty
155	Kristine Ellingson	Other
156	Anonymous	Student
157	Ronald Brown, Professor of Physics, Emeritus	Other
158	Anonymous	Other
159	Darrell Voss	Other
160	Lisa Moreno	Other
161	anonymous	Student
162	Ray Fernando, Chemistry and Biochemistry	Faculty

163	Julia Voss	Other
164	Anonymous, CENG	Student
165	Jessica May	Other
166	Karenna Case, OCON	Student

167	Gregory Scott, Chemistry & Biochemistry	Faculty
168	A concerned faculty, CAFES	Faculty
169	Christine Lam, President of CLA Ambassadors	Student
170	Justin Cooley, Political Science	Faculty

171	Anonymous, Computer Engineering	Student
172	Vickie Bryant, RN	Other

173	Glen Gillen, Physics	Faculty
174	Anonymous Parent	Parent
175	Anonymous	Student
176	Briana Ronan; School of Education	Faculty
177	Anonymous	Parent
178	Olivia Weinbaum, Civil Engineering Student	Student
179	Anonymous, CENG	Faculty

180	Raphael Pham	Student
181	Anonymous, Campus Staff Member	Staff
182	Anonymous Spouse of Campus Staff Member	Other
183	Brad Campbell, English	Faculty
184	Anonymous	Parent
185	Anonymous	Parent

186	Alysson Loo, Mechanical Engineering	Student
187	concerned faculty / CAFES	Faculty
188	Laura Pompa	Student
189	Anonymous	Parent
190	Anonymous	Parent
191	Mary Donnelly	Other
192	Todd Pierce	Faculty

193	Cheri Love, Cal Poly ’10	Other
194	Kari Bennett, CENG	Student
195	Anonymous, Computer Science	Student

196	H. Tetsuo Uyeda Ph. D.	Other
197	Anonymous	Parent
198	Lydia Yang, CLA	Student
199	Rachel Best, NRES	Student
200	Anonymous, CLA	Student
201	Courtney Kaylor	Parent
202	Anna Mueller	Parent
203	Worried Healthcare Worker form Campus Health and Wellbeing	Staff
204	Jasmine Till	Student
205	Kara	Student
206	Jennifer Lee, ASI Secretary of Wellbeing, NRES	Student
207	Anonymous and concerned parent	Parent
208	Brayden Prichard, Computer Science	Student
209	Natalie Young	Student
210	Conner O’Neil	Student
211	Tonya Tong/ OCOB	Student
212	Samantha Halpin Senet	Other
213	Anonymous Health Center	Staff
214	Anonymous high risk student, Biomedical Engineering	Student
215	Michael Wollman Electrical Engineering	Faculty

216	Michelle Call – faculty spouse and parent	Other
217	Anonymous	Staff
218	Jane Lehr, ES/WGQS	Faculty
219	Anonymous	Faculty
220	Vickie Bryant, RN	Other
221	Jennifer Carroll, Chemistry	Faculty
222	Christian Anderson	Faculty
223	Anonymous Alumna, Community Member and CLA Faculty	Faculty
224	Tayler Garis (concerned alumni)	Other
225	Anonymous COSAM	Student
226	Nicky Sandoz, Graphic Communication	Student

227	Meredith Milam CAED	Student
228	Sandy Stannard, Architecture	Faculty

229	Leanne Berning, Animal Science	Faculty
230	Padma Maitland, Architecture	Faculty
231	Anonymous (Biological Sciences)	Faculty
232	Wendelin Asbury	Parent

233	Anonymous	Staff
234	anonymous, Journalism	Faculty
235	anonymous, liberal studies	Student
236	Anonymous	Staff
237	Bethany Porta – POLS/ES	Student
238	Shelley L. Hurt – Political Science	Faculty

239	Anonymous –Psychology	Student
240	Anonymous, CLA	Student
241	Madeline Wales, Graphic Communication	Student
242	Leah Nielsen	Other
243	Laura Rios — Physics	Faculty
244	Merav Leveson	Student

245	Ian Finneran — concerned family of faculty	Other
246	Stephanie Enzminger	Student
247	Hasan Palandoken, Chemistry and Biochemistry	Faculty
248	anonymous, liberal studies	Student
249	Anonymous, Engineering	Faculty
250	anonymous	Parent
251	ANONYMOUS	Other

252	Kara, Biology	Faculty
253	Anonymous, Biological Sciences	Student
254	Elle Philips – Graphic Communication	Student
255	Shanju Zhang, Chemistry and Biochemistry	Faculty
256	Craig Arceneaux – Political Science	Faculty
257	Maxwell Freeman EESS major	Student
258	Grace, Social Science	Student
259	anonymous	Student
260	Sofia Warner, CLA	Student
261	Meaghan Coyle, COSAM	Student
262	Ava Brackenbury	Student
263	Anon	Student
264	Megan Campbell	Student
265	Anonymous Athletics Department	Faculty
266	A.G.	Student
267	R.D.AVERSANO/ NRES	Faculty
268	Welby Nielsen, D.O.	Other
269	anonymous political science student (CLA)	Student
270	Anonymous – IME	Student
271	Robert Hostetler, History Department Class of 2019	Other
272	David Mitchell, Physics & Liberal Studies	Faculty
273	Troy S Bundy, parent and Trial Lawyer	Parent
274	Katharina Gillen, Physics	Faculty
275	Anonymous OCOB	Faculty
276	Jeanne Marie Storm	Parent

277	Anonymous	Faculty
278	Anonymous front-line staff member in University Housing	Staff
279	Chance Hoellwarth	Faculty

280	Ally Lai, CENG student	Student
281	Anonymous	Student
282	Anonymous, Engineering	Parent
283	Anonymous, Kinesiology & Public Health	Faculty
284	Anonymous, Business Administration	Student
285	anonoymous	Staff
286	Anonymous, CENG	Student
287	Courtney	Staff
288	Anonymous – Office of the Registrar	Staff
289	Noah Aragon, Political Science	Student
290	Rose Duran, Extended Education	Staff
291	Christine	Staff
292	CAL POLY HEALTH SERVICES	Other
293	Ruby Moz, Office of the Registrar	Staff
294	Megan O’Neill Biological Sciences	Faculty
295	David Braun, Electrical Engineering	Faculty
296	Jacob Lafarga, history department alum and SOE teacher candidate	Student
297	Mark W. Martinez	Staff
298	Anonymous	Staff
299	Anonymous	Staff
300	Marilyn Tseng, Kinesiology and Public Health	Faculty
301	Anonymous	Parent

302	Anonymous – Animal Science	Student
303	Anonymous	Parent
304	Anonymous	Parent
305	Anonymous	Other
306	Anonymous	Staff
307	Jean Williams, Political Science and WGQS	Faculty
308	Anonymous!	Staff
309	Anonymous (OCOB)	Faculty
310	Sara, Safer	Staff
311	Anonymous Campus Health and Wellbeing Health Provider	Staff
312	Odile Ayral, professor emeritus, modern Language dept.	Faculty
313	Anonymous, Mustang Success Center	Staff
314	anonymous	Staff
315	Anonymous – Athletics	Faculty
316	Mark Stankus, Mathematics	Faculty

317	Anonymous	Student
318	Anonymous & Immunocompromised | Campus Health & Wellbeing	Staff

319	Anonymous – CAED	Faculty
320	Anonymous, Physics	Faculty
321	Anonymous, family of CAFES faculty	Other
322	Shelly Landers	Staff
323	anon	Parent
324	Extremely worried 2nd year	Student
325	Anonymous Immunocompromised with Cancer	Faculty
326	Misha Davies	Other
327	Britt brown	Parent
328	Anonymous	Student
329	Korinne Valler, CLA	Student

330	Kristina Toma	Student
331	Emma Sturm	Student
332	Heather Liwanag, Biological Sciences	Faculty

333	Bob Tedone, alumnus	Other
334	John Hagen, Chemistry and Biochemistry	Faculty
335	Anonymous alumnus & immunocompromised community member	Other

336	Anonymous, Electrical Engineering	Faculty
337	Electrical Engineering Faculty	Faculty
338	Tony Prado – Journalism lecturer in a high-risk category with family at home also at high risk	Faculty
339	anonymous, public health student	Student

340	Christopher Toft OCOB	Student
341	Concerned parent with background in immunology and infectious disease research	Parent
342	Karen Muñoz-Christian, World Languages & Cultures	Faculty
343	Test all students	Student
344	Raphael Pham	Student
345	Anonymous (college of liberal arts)	Student

346	Anonymous	Parent
347	Anonymous CAFES	Parent
348	Richard Schmidt, Architecture Faculty Emeritus	Faculty

349	Anonymous Engineering Student	Student
350	Amanda Gersoff	Student
351	anonymous (engineering)	Student

352	Rose Duran, Extended Education	Staff
353	anonymous – economics	Faculty
354	Anonymous, OCOB	Faculty
355	Anonymous, Mechanical Engineering	Faculty

356	ANON Counseling Services Psychologist	Faculty
357	Scott Nelson	Other
358	Anonymous – Econ/College of Business	Faculty

359	T Greene	Other
360	Welby Nielsen, D.O.	Other
361	Anonymous	Parent
362	Anonymous	Parent
363	Anonymous CSM	Faculty
364	anonymous	Staff
365	Anonymous, EE	Student
366	Paul Hiltpold, Emeritus	Faculty

367	Dean Arakaki, Electrical Engineering	Faculty
368	Anonymous, Cal Poly Corporation	Staff
369	Second year student	Student
370	Second year student	Student
371	Anonymous / CAFES	Faculty
372	Anonymous / CAFES	Faculty

373	Anonymous Cal Poly Corporation	Staff
374	Suzanne Phelan	Faculty

375

Anonymous, Kinesiology and Public Health

Faculty

376	Anonymous – Liberal Studies	Student
377	R. Hawthorne, Alumnus and neighbor	Other
378	Anonymous	Faculty

379	Anonymous family of faculty	Other
380	Parent of continuing student in dorms	Parent

381	Anonymous	Faculty
382	Steve Smith	Other
383	Your de-densify numbers are too high	Student
384	Anonymous: English Department	Faculty
385	Anonymous, Kinesiology & Public Health	Faculty

386	Vanessa Mariscal	Other
387	Anonymous	Other
388	Anonymous	Parent

389	L.P., Computer Engineering	Student
390	Please close until you can at least test EVERY SINGLE STUDENT, FACULTY MEMBER & STAFF	Student

391	Sandra Rowley, community member	Other
392	Jnan Blau, Communication Studies	Faculty

393	Very, very worried parent!	Parent
394	Scared parent of a 3rd year	Parent
395	Mieko Temple, ASCI	Student

396	Anonymous – student affairs	Staff
397	Learn by being responsible	Student

398	Anonymous	Parent
399	Anonymous, OCOB	Faculty