Xavier University Newswire
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Xavier University Exhibit All Xavier Student Newspapers Xavier Student Newspapers 2020-03-26 Xavier University Newswire Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) Follow this and additional works at: https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/student_newspaper Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the History Commons Recommended Citation Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio), "Xavier University Newswire" (2020). All Xavier Student Newspapers. 3115. https://www.exhibit.xavier.edu/student_newspaper/3115 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Xavier Student Newspapers at Exhibit. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Xavier Student Newspapers by an authorized administrator of Exhibit. For more information, please contact [email protected]. XAVIER Published by the students of Volume CVI Issue 24 Xavier University since 1915 March 26, 2020 NEWSWIRE Fiat justitia, ruat caelum xaviernewswire.com Remote learning brings questions Administrators consider pass/fail grading and refunds for room and board BY KEVIN THOMAS ple’s minds and that’s on our Editor-in-Chief minds,” Johnson said. “There’s certainly a willingness and Xavier University admin- determination to do some- istrators are facing a bundle thing for students. of questions after deciding While there is consider- on March 12 to move to a re- ation for refunds for room mote learning format for the and board, Johnson said that rest of the spring semester. there will not be a refund These questions range in tuition for students, de- from uncertainty about how spite the sudden shift to re- the decision was made to mote learning as opposed to whether the university will in-person classes. oer the option for pass or “Certainly everyone re- fail grading and refunds. grets the shift in the format,” The decision to move to Johnson said. “Nonetheless, remote learning was made the university is still doing by the COVID-19 Response its best to deliver against the Team. The team began mon- promised content. It’s just in a itoring the spread of the virus new medium.” in early January. This new medium extends The task force, which is beyond classes, and includes led by Vice President of Risk Newswire photo by Heather Gast many campus resources, such The COVID-19 pandemic has left some grocery stores empty like the one above being patronized by an alumnus, as counseling services and Management Je Coleman, while Xavier’s response has lled students with questions about what moving entirely to remote learning will mean. includes a handful of ad- peer management, which will ministrators, including Chief March 10, and the task force this would mean Xavier will to decide. also be held in online formats. Student Aairs Ocer Dave realized the consequences of oer a pass or fail option in- “One mechanism by While this semester has Johnson, Xavier Police Chief a temporary switch to remote stead of letter grades. which some faculty may well changed, and the summer Rob Warfel, TriHealth Associ- learning. On Tuesday, March 24, a choose to also be supportive semester will be aected, the ate David Rigdon and more. “By (March 12), we were student started a petition on is to oer pass/fail for some fall semester will go on as The team is a subgroup of looking to the future and change.org to have the uni- students,” Johnson said. “My planned and Johnson is excit- the Campus Emergency Re- we realized that it was real- versity provide the option to hunch is that it won’t be ed to see the Xavier commu- sponse Team (CERT) which ly better to probably make pf pass or fail grading for the across the board, one way or nity continue to support each has formed task forces in re- a more comprehensive and spring semester. the other, because dierent other, even if from a distance. sponse to other viruses, such long-term decision, and we “These changes in the academic programs are very “I lament that the semester as the Ebola virus and Swine decided to move to remote removal of face-to-face in- dierent.” and on campus experience Flu, but has never responded learning for the rest of the se- structions and the relocation Despite this uncertain- ended when it did and how it as comprehensively. mester,” Johnson said. of students back home have ty, Johnson said he believes did,” Johnson said. “We’ve never had as robust However, this decision created various barriers to there will be some kind of “I think spring is a magic of a response because we’ve came as surprise to all in the maintaining the same aca- decision made in the upcom- time on campus, and I will never faced as big of a chal- Xavier community, with the demic footings,” the petition ing week, but it may not be a miss not sharing it with stu- lenge,” Johnson said. exception of the task force reads. “…Due to the circum- campus-wide option. dents. I will miss that students CERT makes recommen- and some other administra- stances of each individual “We’re going to have to aren’t sharing it with their dations to Father Michael tors, as faculty, students and student, Xavier University’s wait and see what happens at peers in person. I am very ea- Graham, president, on how sta were informed of the de- leaders should consider the Xavier, but it probably won’t ger for us all to give it our all the university should act, but cision at the same time. students’ proposal to pro- be a binary this or that,” John- to build community online Graham makes the ultimate “Stakes were high, and we vide the OPTION of pass/fail son said. and to stay connected and to decision. wanted to get all the informa- grading for the Spring 2020 Another concern that stu- be creative and committed According to Johnson, the tion out to everyone abso- semester.” dents may have at this time is to our community even from rapidly changing situation lutely as quickly as possible,” As of midnight on March in regard to refunds for room afar. I think we can pull it o. prevented thorough commu- Johnson said. 26, the petition had received and board. The university But I’m really excited to get- nication with student lead- This quick change to class- 2,461 signatures. is currently examining this ting back to being together ership as the pace of action es and campus has led to un- Johnson said that the question and Johnson hopes on campus.” and decision making altered certainty in the student body conversation is happening to have a denite answer to More information can be when Governor Mike DeWine regarding what this means for among academic adminis- send to the community by found on the Xavier website recommended universities grading. In particular, many trators, but that ultimately, it April 17. at Xavier.edu/coronavirus/ move to remote learning on students wonder whether may be up to the instructors “We know that’s on peo- and in the pages that follow. In this issue... Campus News, Page 2 Campus News, Page 3 World News, Page 5 Op-Eds, Pages 6 & 7 Fine art and lab class- Study abroad students Xavier alumus Savin Some of our seniors es have moved to an were suddenly sum- Mattozzi gives an ac- say good-bye in these online format. Find out moned home, cutting count of his life in Italy powerful pieces about here what that means. many trips short. while in quarantine. the Xavier experience. 2 March 26, 2020 Campus News xaviernewswire.com SGA transitions to remote format SGA responds to COVID-19; begins to plan for the fall with virtual meetings BY HUNTER ELLIS on-campus diversity,” Dhaliw- Staff Writer al said. “I will continue to pursue While Xavier’s Student dierent avenues to incorpo- Government Association rate inclusion and dierent (SGA) has not met since cam- perspectives at Xavier, but pus shut down, President not being on campus has Thomas Wehby assured that denitely taken away valu- business will continue in the able face-to-face meetings,” coming weeks as important he continued. business is conducted. Wehby acknowledged that “We are currently working while the physical barrier may with our advisers in order to provide challenges for SGA, it create a system that would is something necessary for ensure that SGA will be able the safety of the students. to function in an eective He oered reassurance manner,” Wehby said. “(This that despite these challeng- will) most likely result in on- es, SGA will continue to do line video meetings every Photo courtesy of Thomas Wehby its best to serve the students Monday.” Xavier’s Student Government Association (above) will begin to hold their weekly meetings online, discussing the and prepare the university for The SGA executives and university’s response to COVID-19, pursuing new initiatives and preparing for students’ return to campus in the fall. the semesters to come. advisers plan to set up the The Senate also intends to “While there is still po- gun the budgeting process Wheby also assured that online meetings in such a start a conversation with uni- tential that Academic Aairs for clubs. projects like the Feminine way that they will still be versity ocials about nan- could continue to work on According to Senator Ryan Care Product initiative, which open to the public. cial returns to students. our committee projects, I feel Dhaliwal, SOC was only able was approved earlier in the Meanwhile, in the immedi- Despite these eorts, some that it will be signicantly to meet with a handful of semester, remain on track to ate wake of the coronavirus, students expressed concerns more dicult to coordinate clubs to discuss their budget be completed once students the executives have taken on about SGA’s response to meetings with the various for next year.