An Inside Look at Duq's Quarantine Hotel Spring 2021 Zoe Stratos Staff Writer Calendar
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October 15, 2020 Volume 103 Number 08 THE DUQUESNE DUKE www.duqsm.com PROUDLY SERVING OUR CAMPUS SINCE 1925 An inside look at Duq's Quarantine Hotel Spring 2021 Zoe Stratos staff writer calendar As the second wave of COV- ID-19 begins to sweep the country, announced more and more concerns are being raised about the potential for an Colleen Hammond outbreak on Duquesne’s campus. news editor Part of Duquesne University’s mission to stop the spread of CO- VID-19 is to place these contact After a semester full of un- traced students in quarantine, certainties, there are even more and the university had to look off changes in the horizon for the campus for help. Duquesne community. On Duquesne’s COVID-19 in- On Monday, Duquesne Univer- formation website, readers can sity administration announced find a daily report of cases by iso- new adjustments to the Spring lation and quarantine status: one 2021 semester schedule. This of which is “Currently in Quaran- comes less than a week after an tine Hotel, today” with a number incorrect schedule was posted to listed below. the university website by mistake This quarantine hotel, the Hol- last Wednesday, an error that iday Inn Express, can be found caused confusion and speculation right off of the 10th Street Bridge among students and faculty. While the semester was ini- in Pittsburgh’s South Side neigh- Griffin Sendek / Multimedia Editor borhood, and started housing tially supposed to begin on Jan. 7, The Holiday Inn Express just off the 10th St. Bridge is now home to Duquesne students who are required to quarantine 2021, the new start date has been contact-traced students back on due to potential exposure to COVID-19. August 24. pushed back to January 21. Currently, the hotel is unavail- -mors that kids had COVID, and “I have other friends here, and asking them questions. I mean, “In moving the date forward, able to the public, as their book- people kept disappearing from we’re allowed to have quick vis- we didn’t even know where we the university seeks to ensure ing website is closed off for the lifts. Then we were told to quar- its; obviously socially distanced were actually going. We didn’t that students have time to spend entire month of October and No- antine in our rooms.” and with masks on.” know the difference between iso- with family and friends over the vember; moreover, calls to the Currently, students who test But with only a rapid test and lation in the hotel and isolation holiday break and then are able hotel to book a reservation only positive for COVID-19 on cam- no official lab results, the accura- in Towers. I didn’t even know to quarantine at home as a safe- result in a “we’re booked for that pus are required to isolate in dis- cy of the tests can easily be called what I needed; did I need tow- ty measure prior to arriving at weekend.” tinct rooms on an isolation wing. into question. els for the shower? Did I need a Duquesne,” said the unsigned an- Within the hotel’s closed doors The fifth floor of Towers is being Despite Jones’s positive outlook pillow? It was kind of a guessing nouncement sent to students. are 59 quarantined students (at used for this purpose. At the time on the experience, sophomore RJ game; they weren’t as prepared However, the announcement the time of publication) as well of publication, the Towers isola- Enders felt very differently. as I thought.” did not specify if students will be as hotel staff and Duquesne staff. tion wing housed 10 students. About two weeks ago, After staying in the hotel for 11 required to complete a standard Duquesne staff members de- But the on-campus quaran- Enders’ friend, who asked not days, Enders had to call Health 14-day quarantine before return- clined an interview, saying they tine rooms didn’t last long: after to be named, felt sick, left Services and was asked a se- ing to campus or how they will “are not disclosing any informa- Jones was given a rapid test and Duquesne’s campus and end- ries of questions regarding his enforce such a policy, should one tion as of now.” confirmed negative, he was sent ed up testing positive while health while in the hotel, includ- be instituted. However, Duquesne’s Vice to the Holiday Inn Express by at home the very next day. ing whether or not he was show- In addition, the university has President for Marketing and shuttle. Jones was given enough Shortly after testing positive, ing symptoms or felt sick during chosen to eliminate spring break Communications, Gabriel Wel- time to pack school supplies, she contacted students she had his stay. After questioning, the for the coming semester “in order sch, explained that the staff as well as two weeks worth of in-person contact with, making health professional sent a clear- to prevent potential spread of the working at the hotel is assigned clothes before taking off. them aware of her diagnosis. ance letter to Residence Life, and coronavirus due to travel typically through Residence Life: a Resi- Students are assigned a room, “I was actually kind of terri- to Enders’ health portal. associated with breaks,” said the dent Director and Assistant Resi- and cleaning supplies are placed fied,” Enders said. “I had been This past Sunday, Enders statement. dent Director. Along with these in each room for the students around my grandparents the fol- packed up his things and headed “The measures described above professionals picked because to use. The hotel staff does not lowing day without knowing she back to his dorm on Duquesne’s are being taken to optimize safety they “understand the specific clean the student rooms. Stu- had it yet. I was really scared for campus. and ensure the ability for stu- needs and conditions of student dents are also able to do laundry them because you hear a bunch “I understand where they’re dents to make academic progress life,” the hotel’s manager, clean- in the hotel’s laundry room. of horror stories.” coming from, but then again I despite the challenges created by ing staff, and desk staff all still Since students are confirmed But after talking to one of felt it was almost pointless the the COVID-19 pandemic,” said work at the hotel. negative through the rapid test, Duquesne’s contact tracers, Enders way they handled it,” Enders the statement. Shawn Jones, a junior and of- they are able to leave rooms and felt a bit more comfortable with his said. “As for students, make sure The university’s new selling fensive lineman for Duquesne’s go to the lobby to grab breakfast, incoming rapid test results, but not to listen to the protocols that are point on this plan, which was not football team, departed for the lunch and dinner — provided by what was to come after. in place right now, because going mentioned in the early draft post- hotel on Oct. 3 along with other Parkhurst. “It was kind of a blind expe- to the hotel is not a fun experi- ed by mistake, mentioned new players who live on campus, after “We also get an hour per day rience. I was on the phone that ence. You want to hang out with “Virtual J-terms.” These online, cases began popping up within to go outside and maybe go get entire day, and it was hard to your friends and go to classes, so crash style, non-credit courses the team. some food. We have a 10 p.m. find answers as to what was go- just listen to the guidelines.” will be available from Jan. 7-20 “We found out from our coach- curfew, so we’re not allowed to ing to happen,” Enders said. “I see SPRING — page 3 es,” Jones said. “There were ru- leave after then,” Jones said. kept talking to Health Services, ... opinions features sports a & e Follow us on... The Secret is Lessons from the John Wehner talks Autumn leaves Out Pandemic to The Duke bring fall fun to Fair Trade is not a Duquesne community Pirates broadcaster campus fair deal for farmers shares inspiration reflects on BUCS' Pumpkin patches, and producers in the season, COVID-19 developing world. flower shows, "Among Us" and more @theduquesneduke PAGE 4 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 9 2 Ken Gormley publicly responds to POLICE briefs Update: Black Student Union's demands Duq's new- Here are the crimes reported for T h e Gormley then outlined some of ity. It will produce a public plan and S t Oct. 5 to Oct. 12: y o t r the many steps Duquesne is tak- statement of our intent, and the work i i n e ing as a university community to we’ll undertake will identify how u BLACK s est college m On Oct. 6, Duquesne public combat racism and make campus such accountability is developed and o m safety discovered two vehicles VOICES f Kellen Stepler o a more equitable space for all stu- achieved,” Gormley said. C parked in the lower surface D MATTER editor-in-chief u dents, including the university’s In their initial statement, BSU de- q Forbes Ave. parking lot with k u c e a first “Action Plan for Diversity, Eq- manded university administration l s B n e ’ broken windows. s uity and Inclusion.” create an anonymous system for re- In a season of cancellations and On Oct.