THURSDAY, VOLUME 89 SEPTEMBER 2, 2021THE ITHACAN ISSUE 2 ACCURACY • INDEPENDENCE • INTEGRITY Ithaca College students react to return to normal BY JILLIAN BLEIER experiencing symptoms can go to the Ham- mond Health Center for a COVID-19 test, Ithaca College has gradually returned Samm Swarts, assistant director of Emergency to in-person classes and normal dining ser- Preparedness and Response in the Office of vices, but reinstated mask wearing indoors Public Safety and Emergency Management, for Fall 2021, sparking controversy among said via email. Employees who are vaccinated some students. and experiencing symptoms should look for The college began welcoming students testing at the mall site or through their reg- and faculty back to campus Aug. 10 for the ular healthcare provider, he said via email. fall semester and for in-person classes with Mask Reaction few health and safety guidelines still in place. Students have expressed a variety of re- In order to return to campus, all students sponses to the college’s decision to reinstate were required to be fully vaccinated for its indoor mask policy for the fall semester. COVID-19. Excluding medical and religious “We anticipated a mixed reaction,” Swarts exemptions, 99% of the student population said via email. “Overall, the response has been is fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Faculty mostly positive.” and staff are not required to be vaccinated. Tompkins County is currently experienc- In a July 30 email to the campus com- ing a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases. munity, the college said mask wearing is There were 30 new positives Aug. 30 and a required indoors for all individuals, regard- total of 253 active cases. Active cases rose less of vaccination status. The college had above 100 for the first time since April on previously relaxed its mask policy for those Aug. 13. who submitted proof of vaccination in July. The last time the county had more than Ithaca College is currently at alert lev- 200 active cases was between December 2020 el green. Students, faculty and staff at the and February 2021. Many Ithaca College college are only required to participate in students took to Twitter to express their surveillance testing if they are not fully vacci- dissatisfaction with the college’s Ithaca College has relaxed some COVID-19 guidelines, like social distancing requirements nated. The college currently has eight active lack of surveillance testing for and mask wearing outdoors, but continues to have an indoor mask wearing policy. student cases and five active employee cases. BRENDAN IANNUCCI/THE ITHACAN Any student who is vaccinated and MASKS, PAGE 4 Retired professor and leader COVID-19 cases rise of IC trombone troupe dies in local community BY SYD PIERRE BY CAITLIN HOLTZMAN requiring surveillance testing for Harold Reynolds, recently Tompkins County is current- vaccinated students. retired trombone professor in ly reporting a dramatic rise in The Tompkins County Health the Department of Music Per- COVID-19 cases. However, Itha- Department (TCHD) released a formance at Ithaca College, ca College has not said if it will statement Aug. 31 regarding the died unexpectedly. re-implement surveillance testing increase in cases. Reynolds’ death was for vaccinated students, despite Frank Kruppa, Tompkins Coun- announced to the campus com- student concerns. ty public health director, said in munity Aug. 30 through an Tompkins County reported the statement that the county is Intercom post. 130 new positive COVID-19 cases continuing to urge residents to wear Reynolds worked at the college Aug. 31. The county also broke two a mask, get vaccinated for for 33 years and served as the ad- COVID-related records Aug. 31. COVID-19 and get tested. viser for the Trombone Troupe, the Tompkins County recorded the Kruppa also stated that there is a college’s trombone choir. most active cases and new positives high vaccination rate at the colleges The post stated that Reyn- in one day. There are currently 368 in the county. olds was a beloved colleague, active cases in the county. Pre- Ithaca College is report- teacher and friend, and viously, the highest number of ing 99% of all students are that the college will be offering From left, Jason Macy ‘03 and Harold Reynolds, recently retired active cases was 330 Jan. 8 vaccinated, Cornell University is support services for the and the previous highest num- reporting 95% of its on-campus campus community. professor in the Department of Music Performance at the college. COURTESY OF TIM SMITH ber of new positives in one population is vaccinated and “Currently, work is underway day was 62 cases reported Tompkins Cortland Community with campus partners on sup- available through the Ithaca Col- Spiritual Life has a website Aug. 28. College is requiring vaccines for ports for students, faculty and staff lege Center for Counseling and dedicated to grief resources. Ithaca College currently all students. who need space for feelings of Psychological Services (CAPS) by The post also stated that in- has eight active student cas- Kruppa said many of the new loss and grief, and to hon- calling (607) 274-3136. formation on any funeral or es — six residential and two cases are coming from close contacts, or Professor Reynolds,” the Faculty and staff at the col- memorial services will be shared off-campus students. which is defined as spending more post stated. “More informa- lege can access the counseling with the campus community when There are five active staff cases. than 10 minutes within six feet of a tion will be shared as soon as it services of the Employee Assis- it becomes available. Cornell University reported 56 pos- positive individual. becomes available.” tance Program (EAP) by calling itives Aug. 29, 57 positives Aug. 28 “As people resume their normal Support services for stu- 1-800-327-2255. and 44 positives Aug. 27. CONTACT SYD PIERRE COVID, PAGE 4 dents at the college are The Office of Religious and [email protected] Ithaca College is not currently LIFE & CULTURE | page 13 OPINION | page 9 SPORTS | page 19 HISTORY EXHIBIT COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL TEAM CELEBRATES GATHERING LACKS HOLDS TRAINING WOMEN’S RIGHTS INFORMATION OVER SUMMER 2 | NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 MULTIMEDIA THERE’S MORE MULTIMEDIA ONLINE. VISIT THEITHACAN.ORG/MULTIMEDIA “Ladder to the Stars” with Arleigh Rodgers Deadline Day This week’s TikTok shows the office in the morning and in the afternoon of deadline day. Host Eva Salzman interviews former host Arleigh Rodgers ‘21 about “Ladder to the Stars,” a playlist inspired by each episode of Re:Mixing. On the Quad: Ithaca College’s Masking Policy Students express their opinions about Ithaca College’s masking policy Aug. 31. THE ITHACAN 220 ROY H. PARK HALL, ITHACA COLLEGE, ITHACA, NY 14850 (607) 274-3208 • [email protected] WWW.THEITHACAN.ORG The Ithacan The Ithacan EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ALEXIS MANORE MANAGING EDITOR FRANKIE WALLS COMMUNITY OUTREACH MANAGER CASSIE LOGEDO OPINION EDITOR GIANNY GUZMAN NEWS EDITOR CAITLIN HOLTZMAN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR SYD PIERRE ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR JILLIAN BLEIER LIFE & CULTURE EDITOR EVA SALZMAN ASSISTANT LIFE & CULTURE EDITOR ELIJAH DE CASTRO IthacanOnline IthacanOnline SPORTS EDITOR CONNOR GLUNT ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR TOMMY MUMAU PHOTO EDITOR ELEANOR KAY ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR ALYSSA BEEBE ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR ANA MANIACI MCGOUGH CO-MULTIMEDIA EDITOR ALISON TRUE CO-MULTIMEDIA EDITOR ERIKA PERKINS PODCAST EDITOR ILYANA CASTILLO CHIEF COPY EDITOR GRACE HUETHER IthacanOnline IthacanOnline PROOFREADER BRIGID HIGGINS ASSISTANT PROOFREADER MEG MARZELLA HEAD DESIGN EDITOR ANNA MCCRACKEN INTERIM ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR ABBEY LONDON WEB DIRECTOR SAM EDELSTEIN SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER ABBY MOORE AD SALES MANAGER CAMILLE BROCK GOT A NEWS TIP? Contact the News Editor at [email protected] or 274-3208 COPY EDITORS Chloe Eberhard, Grace Huether, Ilana Krebs, Meg Marzella, Evan Miller, SINGLE COPIES OF THE ITHACAN ARE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTION Nathan Moone, Lucretius Rutkowski POINTS ON THE ITHACA COLLEGE CAMPUS AND IN THE ITHACA COMMUNITY. MULTIPLE COPIES AND MAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE ITHACAN. PLEASE CALL FOR RATES. THE ITHACAN IS PRINTED AT BAYARD PRINTING GROUP IN WILLIAMSPORT, PA. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 NEWS | 3 Physician assistant program opens for Fall 2021 BY SYD PIERRE in the community. Ithaca College has welcomed its “The vision of the PA program inaugural cohort of students into its is to create competent healthcare newly created Master of Science in providers that are leaders through Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Pro- service to others employing inno- gram for the fall semester. vative tools and resources to meet Offered by the college’s School the needs of the community and of Health Sciences and Human Per- increase the diversity of the health- formance (HSHP), the PA program care profession by continuing to was officially launched in Spring recruit a diverse class reflecting our 2021 and has received provisional patient populations,” Salahshor said accreditation from the Accreditation via email. Review Commission on Education Kari Brossard Stoos, associate for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) professor and associate chairper- and approval from the New York son for the Department of Health State Education Department, ac- Promotion and Physical Education, cording to an announcement from said she thinks the program will the college. help evolve the interprofessional The program is 27 months education opportunities offered by long and is