COVID-19 Testing Reveals Low Positivity Rate
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VOLUME 118 ISSUE 5 TRINITONIANServing Trinity University Since 1902 SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 6 Exploring the musical genius 12 Tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman, 14 Tiger student-athletes discuss OPINION that is instrumental metal ARTS known for Black Panther, Jackie Robsinson SPORTS their favorite sports movies COVID-19 testing reveals low positivity rate Of 100 students, faculty and staff randomly sampled, zero tests to-date have come back positive The specifics of how many people to test, JAKE PERRY | REPORTER and in what ways, have been based on the [email protected] recommendations of two local epidemiologists that have been in consultation with Trinity since With plexiglass walls, a small team of the outbreak. “We rely on the professionals,” masked medical personnel and a “please said Ivan Pendergast, Emergency Management take a number” machine, Murchison lounge Coordinator at Trinity. is a far cry from the midnight computer Those randomly selected testees can lab students know and love. Now, it’s the choose online from a series of testing times center of Trinity’s first round of COVID-19 so as not to interfere with classes or job surveillance testing. obligations. Testees enter the one-way door, The first round of mass testing revealed take a number, and after a short, socially- an exceptionally low positivity rate, and the distanced wait, are given the polymerase most recent round has a nonexistent one. So chain reaction (PCR) “nasal swab” test. Once far, there have been zero positive results from the test is complete, testees are then free to go the first round of surveillance testing. about their day. “It’s gone really efficiently, I’m pleased to PCR tests are what Trinity is using right say,” said Tess Coody-Anders, vice president now, but that may change. for Strategic Communications and Marketing. “Going forward, so that we can test “This is a pretty seminal moment. Mass testing perhaps more people and perhaps more was a big deal, now let’s see what’s happened often, we’re going to look at other options,” since school started.” said Coody-Anders. “We’ve looked at and JACKE ROBLEDO and CHANTEL CHAMPAGNE talk while waiting for students to arrive to the COVID-19 testing About 100 participants were selected are trying to decide whether or not we’d center in Murchison lounge. One-hundred students, faculty and staff were administered PCR tests. randomly by computer from the categories of use a rapid antigen test, or perhaps that in photo by KATE NUELLE on-campus students, off-campus commuter conversation with some other approaches.” students, faculty and staff. The categories The level of resources Trinity has to enough to take actions [and] reduce operations Surveillance testing will continue this way are selected proportionally to the size of respond to a COVID-19 outbreak on campus before the entire campus is implicated.” for the foreseeable future, on a recurring 14- populations relative to each other, meaning remains above what is currently being used. “We don’t want to use low numbers as day cycle. It is not set in stone how Trinity students account for more than 50% of “We’ve improved our processes at quarantine a false sense of security and relax,” said would respond to an outbreak indicated by those tested. Students are also representative and isolation enough that we have a pretty good Pendergast. He attributes the success of the a second round of testing. Administration is of the different residence halls and buildings capacity,” Coody-Anders said. “We would want first round to “[Trinity’s] messaging and keeping its options open. on campus. to be able to do enough testing frequently students listening.” continued on PAGE 3 Conduct panel, dean’s office issue Health Pledge violation sanctions Forty-two reports of violations have been made anonymously and through TUPD, Residential Life students accused will have the opportunity BENJAMIN ADAMS | REPORTER to defend themselves. [email protected] “If the reporter is a RA or RLC, we invite them as a witness to hearings. Witnesses As a part of Trinity’s ProtecTU campaign have a non-speaking role, but the panel can to limit the spread of COVID-19, all ask them questions. Generally, if the party students, faculty and staff were required who reported the incident is involved in to sign the ProtecTU Health Pledge, the hearing for Student Conduct, they are in which they agreed to practice social normally asked questions from the panelist,” distancing and wear masks. Designed to wrote Castillo. hold students accountable to their peers “The student conduct panel overall aims and community, students that break the for fairness and transparency while holding pledge face consequences, ranging from students responsible for their actions. There removal from residence halls to a one- is not a ‘cover all’, or ‘blanket’ sanction semester suspension. for violations of the health pledge,” wrote “Generally, if the student breaks the Castillo. “All cases are viewed independently, promise made in the Health Pledge, and the panel considers several factors, their infraction is either handled through such as the impact to the TU and greater Residential Life staff or the Dean of community, impact on the student, how the Students office, either administratively or incident unfolded, etc. Within the panel, on a Conduct Panel,” wrote Casey McLeod, we encourage students to talk openly about senior biochemistry and molecular biology MEGAN MAGILL, junior biology major and member of the Student Conduct Board, is one of the individuals the incident, the factors that led up to the major and member of the Student Conduct hearing ProtecTU Health Pledge violation cases. Most reports so far have been by Residential Life staff. incident, and so on.” Board, in an email interview. photo by KATE NUELLE When it comes to consequences for health In order for an investigation to take pledge violations, the potential sanctions are place, a report must be made, either by Most reports have come from Residential Outside of the reports made by also variable. Residential Life, TUPD, or through Trinity’s Life staff. Residential Life staff, reports have also “Most sanctions involve a warning and anonymous COVID-19 violation form. “The reports are consistent with rounds trickled in from the student body, some of fine which can change depending on how “These cases can then be handled through the [Resident Assistants] have to complete which are anonymous. severe the actions were,” wrote Meghan several different outputs discussed above. and thorough reports of noise complaints, Castillo pointed out that “The reporting Magill, junior biology major and member Generally, if the report is sent through our etc.,” wrote Christina Castillo, coordinator form asks for the reporter’s information, of the Student Conduct Board, in an anonymous forum, the Dean of Students for Student Conduct and Special Projects, the students involved and a description of email interview. office reaches out to the alleged students to in an email interview. “RA’s are not out what occurred. The form also has a section Magill also noted that there were get more information prior to scheduling looking for violations, but if they come across to include uploads, such as pictures, videos, things that students who had violated the a case,” wrote McLeod. “Once all the something that seems like it violated policy, etc. Sometimes there is no information to health code could do in order to positively necessary information is gathered from they need to report it.” follow up on in the report.” influence the severity of the sanctions given both respondents and reporting parties, a So far, 42 reports have been received by When it comes to trial, these reporters to them. Conduct Panel case is usually scheduled.” the Office of the Dean of Students. will have a chance to give their say, and the 2 TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 • NEWS Previously, on SGA: Student Activity Fund, What’s It Good For? WEAR This covers the meeting on Sept. 16 their newly-held positions. Planning for these elections will begin soon. CLIMATE CHECK Sophomore senator Donya Ahmadi started off this PUBLIC MEETINGS, NO PUBLIC? YOUR week’s climate check by inquiring about what students VP Chapin-Eiserloh mentioned that they are currently should do if they see someone who’s not allowed on looking to increase SGA visibility, particularly when it campus, referring to a person who hasn’t been tested comes to community members attending their public or tracked their symptoms. Advisor Thompson referred meetings. Junior Communication Chair Rebecca Wicker Ahmadi to the COVID Violation Report page where said that they are currently working on inviting the MASKS students can submit a report about an individual who is community through Instagram where those interested in violation of community health and safety guidelines. can be sent a link if they wish to attend the meeting. Senator Ahmadi also suggested that SGA review their constitution to address conflicts of interests to STUDENT ACTIVITY FUND PLEASE prevent potential issues in the future. Though junior Vice Once again, questions about where the student President Oliver Chapin-Eiserloh stated that there are activity fund would be allocated were brought up. VP no active violations, junior senator Nasim Salehitezangi Chapin-Eiserloh said he was not in favor of distributing suggested that a constitution review would be good the money between students because it wouldn’t be for SGA to ensure that there continue to be no active much anyway. He says he’d much rather see it allocated STAFF violations. towards other ways of helping students that don’t involve KAYLA PADILLA editor-in-chief a cash disbursement. GENEVIEVE HUMPHREYS managing FIRST-YEAR ELECTIONS editor Senior SGA President Jaelen Harris mentioned the JORDAN JURAN business manager COMITTEE ACCOUNTABILITY JESSIE DE ARMAN ad director upcoming first-year elections.